They’re round and green, and open with a pop. They’re the experimental watermelons of the 21st century, “small hybrid triploid beauties with names like Precious Petite and Orchid Sweet,” writes Kim Severson in the New York Times.
Seedless, juicy “icebox” or “personal melons” weigh 3 to 12 pounds and have thick skins for better shipping. The new mini-watermelons are small enough to fit in a canvas tote bag or bike basket, so urban shoppers can carry them back to their apartments, chill them whole in the fridge, and consume them in a day or two. Some have yellow flesh; others feature tiger-striped skin.
These melons are not genetically modified; they are hybrids. Many are grown in the USA; others are imported.
Smaller. Rounder. Sweeter. Juicier. Experiments continue. What’s next?
Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
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Tags: food, fruit, hybrids, icebox melons, melons, mini-watermelon, personal melons, watermelon
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