Category: Watermelon

Scooter: The East Coast’s Next Big Watermelon Success Story

Posted on Dec 16, 2025

Scooter, a premium medium-large seedless watermelon gaining popularity on the East Coast among growers and retailers for its strong performance and fruit quality.

Why Scooter is a winner?

  • Robust plant health and adaptability: make it ideal for open-field growing, ensuring consistent and high yields.
  • High Yield Potential: growers can expect abundant harvests thanks to its vigorous growth and robust plant structure.
  • Exceptional fruit traits includes Early set, round shape, deep red flesh, 5-6 kg average weight, and excellent flavor with high sugar content.
  • High internal quality, showing a deep red, sweet, and crunchy flesh and nice white rind.
  • Strong market appeal due to its eye-catching rind, long shelf life, and suitability for East Coast logistics.
  • Strategic opportunity for growers to meet rising demand for seedless watermelons and boost profitability.
  • This variety isn’t just another watermelon; it’s a strategic opportunity for growers to capture premium market share and meet the growing demand for high-quality, seedless options.

Why growers should choose Scooter?

Proven adaptability to open-field systems. Strong plant health reduces risk and increases reliability. High yield and superior fruit quality mean better returns on investment.

We have samples available now so you can plan your trials. Plus, commercial seeds are ready for order. Don’t miss the chance to secure your supply and lead the market with this exceptional variety. Scooter is more than a watermelon; it’s a promise of quality, profitability, and consumer satisfaction.

Contact us today to request your samples and start planning for a successful season!

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger

Where Passion Meets Innovation: Shaping the Future of Watermelon

Posted on Dec 16, 2025

By Ohad Meiri

At Hazera, innovation is not just a buzzword, it’s the heart of our breeding philosophy.

As a watermelon breeder, I’ve had the privilege of developing varieties that not only meet today’s market expectations but anticipate tomorrow’s needs. Our mission is to create watermelons that delight consumers, support growers, and thrive amid evolving climates and agricultural practices.

For me, success goes far beyond sales metrics. It begins with the consumer enjoying a sweet, refreshing slice on the beach. It continues with marketers who appreciate the variety’s consistency, quality, and visual appeal, and extends to growers who rely on high yields, strong resistances, and the confidence that our genetics will perform. Success is also shared by our production teams, who take pride in the efficiency and reliability of our parent lines. None of this would be possible without the remarkable dedication of my colleagues, Nitzan Tzaidi and Oshrit Fatana, the backbone of our breeding program.

In recent years, we’ve launched new varieties offering extended shelf life, improved disease resistance, and optimized sweetness and texture. These achievements are the result of years of research, intensive field trials, and close partnerships with growers across diverse regions.

One of our most significant successes is the development of seedless watermelons with consistently vibrant red flesh and excellent internal quality, even under challenging growing conditions. We have also expanded our portfolio to include mini, midi, and full-size options suited to different markets and supply chains.

Looking ahead, we are exploring traits such as extended harvest windows and reduced input requirements. The future of watermelon breeding is full of potential, and at Hazera, we are committed to leading that future.

Because when innovation meets passion, the results are literally sweet.

Would you like to learn more? Reach out to us!

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger

Roaring Success: Onza, a Mini seedless Watermelon with a Big Impact

Posted on Mar 12, 2025

Developing a triploid, seedless watermelon requires precision and expertise—especially when integrating new traits to meet the demands of growers, retailers, and consumers. Hazera’s breeding team has achieved a remarkable breakthrough with Onza, a next-generation tiger type mini seedless watermelon hybrid.

Onza embodies Hazera varieties’ core strengths and essential traits in crop resilience, high yield, and good shelf-life. Its ideal rind-to-flesh ratio ensures durability during shipping without compromising quality, while its deep red interior, long shelf life, and high brix content guarantee a sweet, flavorful experience.

“Onza is proving to be the first of our new generation mini tiger strip watermelons that shows wide adaptability for West Coast growers. It boasts high yields, excellent field holding capacity, impressive storage shelf life, uniformity, and exceptional internal qualities, which have growers and marketers raving. Watching the harvest crews’ line up Onza on the beds and seeing the line machines stop due to high yields stacking up the belts is a very impressive and prideful sight to see.” ~ says Barry Younkin, Western USA Sales Manager.

Thanks to its amazing adaptability, Onza has quickly gained traction in the US and Mexico markets, proving its value in challenging growing conditions. It delivers measurable benefits across the agricultural chain by reducing costs for growers, maximizing profitability for retailers, and ensuring satisfaction for consumers. At Hazera, innovation does not stop at breeding. Our Fresh Chain program fosters sustainable partnerships across the entire supply chain, from seed to shelf. By collaborating with growers, retailers, and other stakeholders, Hazera ensures that groundbreaking varieties like Onza meet market demands while raising industry standards for quality and sustainability.

Hazera’s long-term vision is to continue elevating watermelon quality and transportability while developing robust solutions for plant protection and yield stability. Through continuous product improvement, Hazera remains committed to advancing a healthier, more resilient food system and delivering optimal value across the agricultural chain.

Would you like to learn more about Onza? Contact us!

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger

Onza, mini seedless watermelon

Posted on Jan 09, 2025

Meet Onza, our mini seedless watermelon

Onza is known for its high quality and practicality. With high yields, resistance to powdery mildew, and a sturdy vine, Onza thrives throughout the growing season. Its ideal rind-to-flesh ratio ensures durability during shipping without compromising quality, while its deep red interior, long shelf life, and high brix content guarantee a sweet, flavorful experience.

Compact and efficient, Onza’s balanced plant structure supports its resilience, and its 50/50% ratio of 6 and 8 watermelons per box adds convenience. The round shape, tiger rind pattern, and suitability for fresh-cut use make it appealing to growers and consumers alike. Combining taste, longevity, and innovation, Onza sets a new standard for seedless mini watermelons.

Would you like to learn more about Onza? Contact us! 

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger
Mini Seedless Watermelon Exceed-ing Expectations

Mini Seedless Watermelon Exceeding Expectations

Posted on Mar 22, 2024

We are excited to share that Exceed, our innovative mini seedless watermelon, reached impressive results in the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2024 competition in Berlin.

Outstanding taste, color, and texture
Do not be fooled by its personal small size. Exceed is exceptional when it comes to flavor and texture. Bite into its juicy, crisp, deep red flesh, and you will meet with a sweet flavor (12-13 Brix) that will make your taste buds dance. With no seeds in it, you can exceed in creating mouthwatering dishes without any hassle.

Perfectly sized for modern living
In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is key. That is where Exceed shines. With its compact size and weight range to 2.5 to 3 kg, Exceed is easy to store in the fridge, fitting seamlessly into modern households. The best part? It retains its juicy, sweet taste longer than its larger counterparts.

Extended shelf life for a greener tomorrow
Compared to traditional, seeded watermelons, Exceed has a longer shelf life, more freshness that help reduce food waste in both supermarkets and homes. That means you can enjoy the sweetness of Exceed for much longer, reducing the need to toss out spoiled fruit. This little one is available from September to May, so you can enjoy it for long time.

Exceeds in sustainability
Exceed is not simply good for your taste buds, it is good for the planet too. Thanks to its resistance to powdery mildew (IR: Px), growers can minimize the use of fungicide sprays, reducing their environmental footprint. Plus, its robustness allows for a 15-20% reduction in water usage, making it a win-win for growers and the environment alike. So, while Exceed may be small, its impact is big.

Would you like to learn more about Exceed? Contact us today!

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger

East Coast demo fields “Exceed” Expectations and more!

Posted on Jun 18, 2023

We sat with our very own Yair Askira, Regional Product Manager Pepper and Watermelon, to learn more and get the latest update on our watermelon and pepper varieties.

“Developing new plant varieties plays a crucial role in meeting the demands of both growers and consumers. New varieties should offer increased productivity, plants that provide more growing adaptability, and improved disease resistance”, says Askira. Here are our up-and-coming select varieties that truly do make a difference in our market:

Lamuyo pepper Monfort is our latest pepper. It is a TSWV-resistant variety that has shown exceptional performance in California.  It has a robust plant that has impressive adaptability and is very productive.  Monfort is rapidly becoming a favorite for CA Lamuyo growers, as it offers the option of multiple harvests throughout the season and the fruit has thick walls and excellent firmness.

As for Watermelons, we are EXCITEd to share that there are several varieties that indeed EXCEED our expectations:

On the East Coast, our demonstration plots of mini watermelons have yielded impressive results.  One of the standout performers is the Exceed variety which has a crimson rind pattern. Exceed truly delivers outstanding performance in terms of flavor and texture.

Additionally, Excite, which is also a crimson variety, proves to be an excellent choice. The East Coast trials have underscored the potential of these varieties and their suitability for different market preferences.

Watermelon growers in California and Mexico face increasing challenges from powdery mildew (PM), which negatively impacts crop quality and yields. To address this issue, our new watermelon variety Onza has been introduced. Onza is a tiger-type, personal-size watermelon which provides strong tolerance to powdery mildew.  It has vigorous vines that offer excellent cover for the fruit and is very productive. The fruit has intense red flesh, which is firm, crisp, and exceptionally tasty. As damage from PM becomes more prevalent, the demand for resistant varieties is on the rise. With its excellent quality, vigorous plant growth, and resistance to powdery mildew, Onza is set to make a significant impact in the watermelon industry.

What’s next? You may ask. According to Askira, “We have now focused our breeding efforts on developing conventional-sized seedless watermelon varieties that will provide the same high-quality internal attributes as our minis”.  We aim to strike the perfect balance between size, taste, and texture. We are planning to conduct extensive trials in the upcoming season to ensure their viability on a larger scale. By refining these varieties through rigorous testing, we strive to offer growers superior options for meeting market demands.

In conclusion, the introduction of Lamuyo Monfort pepper and Onza tiger-type watermelon has injected new possibilities into the vegetable-growing landscape. With their disease resistance, impressive yields, and superior quality, these varieties have garnered attention from growers in California and beyond.

As the industry continues to evolve, the pursuit of innovative plant breeding techniques will pave the way for even more remarkable varieties that meet the diverse needs of growers and consumers alike.

 

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger

1st Watermelon Field Day – Yuma Arizona

Posted on Mar 02, 2022

At our first Watermelon Field Day in Yuma AZ., we presented our new and improved watermelon portfolio including better internal quality, stronger vines, and good resistance to powdery mildew.

We had a display of both tiger and crimson rind patterns in multiple sizes that the industry demands.

 

Our second Watermelon Field day Yuma Arizona will take place in June 2022.

our 1st Watermelon Field Day in Florida will take place  in May 2022

 

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger

2nd Annual Open Field Days in USA, California

Posted on Oct 02, 2021

In our 2nd Annual Open Days in USA (Woodland, California) we felt so privileged to meet and greet hundreds of visitors who responded with boundless enthusiasm. Together with Sales Managers and PD Specialists the visitors toured the field, got a comprehensive explanation of our crop roster and were the first to test new varieties in our crop collections.

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People Behind the Crops: Milena Vulcheva
WINDSOR — A true Gamechanger