Sakata Seed America Launching New Southeastern Watermelon Plant Program
MORGAN HILL, CA - Sakata Seed America is officially kicking off its new Watermelon Plant Program for the Southeast U.S.
Growers can now order young transplants of Sakata’s Bold Ruler and Affirmed triploid watermelon varieties and Ace and SSX8585 pollenizers from Siegers Seed Company, Seedway Inc., Champion Seed Company, and Clifton Seed Company. Plants will be grown and shipped by high-quality Southeastern plant producers, including LTF Greenhouses, LCC (Georgia), Mobley Greenhouses, Inc. (Georgia), Valdosta Plant Company, Inc. (Georgia), Mobley Plant World, LLC (Florida), and Speedling Incorporated (Florida), according to a press release.
“We’re making major strides in watermelon breeding, bringing forth outstanding new genetics that solve real issues for growers and retailers,” said Gattis Guffey, Watermelon Product Manager for Sakata Seed America. “Traits like earliness, yield, firmness, and fantastic flavor are the focus of Sakata breeding and our pipeline is full. This is just one more step in becoming a major provider of high-quality watermelon genetics in the Southeast.”
Sakata says the program is designed to help growers order the quantity of Sakata watermelon plants they will need without the stress and cost of being short or long in plants in the field.
“Growers asked us for this option and we’re happy to deliver,” said John Nelson, Sales & Marketing Director for Sakata. “They wanted an alternative to what’s out there. The value and convenience to the market is high.”
With this new program, Sakata is helping to grow this vibrant category in the industry.
