21 July 2026, Netherlands: Demand for watermelons is growing steadily, partly thanks to hot summers. The yellow varieties from Rijk Zwaan’s seedless Tropical® range help growers to capitalise on this growth and set themselves apart with an eye-catching product. And according to Vincent van Wolferen, Crop Co-ordinator for Melon & Watermelon, this is easier than they might expect
Dependable production
In terms of cultivation and performance, the two varieties in the Tropical range are actually very similar to red watermelons. “Both have excellent fruit setting and dependable, uniform production. Additionally, consumers really like the fact that they are seedless. There are also some differences between them. Tropical Sunshine has an average fruit weight of between 5 and 6 kilos and a dark green ‘sugar baby’ rind. Tropical Honey weighs between 3 and 5 kilos – depending on the cultivation method – and has a tiger stripe-patterned rind. For retailers, it can be useful if their yellow watermelons are visually distinct from their standard red ones,” explains Vincent.
Fresh, sweet flavour
One of the key strengths of the Tropical range is its outstanding flavour. Both watermelon varieties were awarded the highest rating of three stars by the International Taste & Quality Institute (ITQI) in Brussels. Even a foodie like Vincent is surprised by the flavour: “It’s fresh and sweet – truly special. It’s a perfect fit with red watermelon. Customers are also very enthusiastic when they taste our yellow-fleshed varieties.”
Market diversification
The yellow watermelons from the Tropical range offer growers a great opportunity to diversify their market, in close collaboration with retailers and Rijk Zwaan. “This is already happening in places such as North America, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia, where our yellow watermelons are adding a splash of colour to the category. We have strong relationships with retailers on every continent. We are happy to put growers in touch with enthusiastic supermarket buyers.”
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