January 2019 - 21

Pests and diseases have been
managed with plant nutrition, good
sanitation practices, efficient drip
irrigation, hand-weeding and the use of
natural pesticides.
La Perlet is located in the Sonoran
Desert, which provides favorable
conditions for growing watermelon
and hard squash. Characteristics
include sandy soils, lots of sun, mild
winters and seasonal monsoons.
Watermelons are harvested and
shipped twice, from April to May
and October to November. Squash
is available from November through
May - so far, La Perlet is farming a
portion of its area organically.
The Baranzini family of growers
- originally from Northern Italy -
immigrated to Mexico in the 1920s, and
have been growing for Sykes for 38 years.
Going organic involves an
investment of time and money.
Without synthetic pesticides and
fertilizers, farming is risky, and a
formidable amount of paperwork is
required for annual inspections.
Hard squash is a key ingredient in
the vegetable-centric movement that
has taken hold among food enthusiasts.
" Consumers are purchasing more
hard squash in general, " Lesley Sykes
said. " Just look at any of the leading
food and cooking publications and
squash is written all over the place.
Hard squash is ideal for healthconscious
home cooks given its
nutrition profile, versatility, and
pleasant flavor. "
But it's not just a media trend -
consumers are buying, increasing demand.
" We have been feeling this trend
from the demand side over the last
few years out of Nogales (Arizona),
especially for butternut and spaghetti, "
Sykes said. " Another squash to keep
an eye on is Delicata. Delicata is
well-positioned for success - it's tasty,
healthy, and easy to prepare given its
small size and the fact that you can eat
the skin. "
The Sykes Co. looks to increase its
organic offerings. Lesley Sykes notes
that U.S. organic food sales were worth
over $45 billion in 2017, according to
the Organic Trade Association. Fresh
fruits and vegetables - the largest
organic food category - accounted for
roughly 33 percent of those sales.
" Experience across multiple seasons
will translate to an institutional
knowledge that we can apply to other
areas of our businesses, " she said.
" Seedless watermelon presents a
unique opportunity because organic
watermelon supply is tighter and
demand continues to grow. " VGN
The Sykes Co. is looking to obtain other crops grown organically.
RAISING THE BAR
NECTAR
Nectar is a 75 day bi-color that features
excellent ear size with dark husk color which is
perfect for roadside markets. This Crookham
Quad Sweet variety provides great flavor.
ANTHEM XR II
ORANGITA
Anthem XR II from Seminis
provides you with the rust
protection of Anthem XR
with the Roundup®
and BT Performance Series
traits of Anthem II
in one convenient hybrid.
tolerance
Orangita is a beautiful mini
pumpkin from DP Seeds. It has
a disk shape with deep ribbing
that is excellent for display.
FREEDOM
Freedom is a new, white hybrid
from IFSI. This 73 day hybrid
offers great appearance,
ear size, and flavor along with
high yield potential.
RAISING THE BAR
IN QUALITY, FLAVOR, AND YIELD
Bringing you the best products in partnership with
Crookham, DP Seeds, IFSI and Seminis.
Visit ruppseeds.com to request or download your copy
of our 2019 catalog including 40 new products.
May at the Sykes Co. of Rio Rico, Arizona.
VGN | JANUARY 2019 | 21
800-700-1199 * ruppseeds.com
http://www.ruppseeds.com http://www.ruppseeds.com
January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January 2019
