Black seedless watermelons are among the new products that have been developed to tap into growing consumer demand for alternative fresh produce.
The black Dolina watermelons, which are actually dark green, will be unveiled by Syngenta Seeds at next week's Fruit Logistica trade show in Berlin.
The company will also showcase a range of red and yellow cauliflowers and new types of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli.
"Consumers are looking for convenience products that are easy to use and prepare, but taste is most important," said Antonio Navarro, Syngenta's marketing communications manager for vegetables in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We have spent a lot of time and money doing research to find out what people want."
Syngenta has a track record of developing novel fruit and vegetables.
Two years ago it introduced the Solinda variety of small seedless watermelon, which Navarro said had proved popular among European consumers because of its practical size and sweet taste.
He expected it to do well in the UK where shoppers favoured convenience products.
The Kumato tomato, which is sweet and has an intensive aroma, had also gone down well with consumers, he said.
Consumers were increasingly interested in tasty snack fruit and vegetables, said Navarro. This year there would also be further growth in bagged salads, particularly those featuring a range of leaf mixes, he predicted.
The company was working hard to ensure extreme weather caused by climate change did not lead to shortages of supply, he said.
It was currently developing disease and drought-resistant varieties to combat harsh weather and would also be developing varieties that could tolerate a higher level of rainfall, he added.
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