Pure Flavor launches 'Solara' greenhouse-grown melon

Pure Flavor, per a press release, has launched what it says is the the fresh produce industry’s first greenhouse grown melons, which will be branded under the Solara name.  

“After many years of research & development, we are excited to bring the first commercially available greenhouse grown melons to market”, said Jamie Moracci, Pure Flavor's resident. Per the release, the company has been testing different varieties since 2014 and has now "homed in on an exclusive variety that is scalable production wise and checks all the boxes to meet product, brand, retail, foodservice, and consumer expectations."

Partnering with Cornell University during the product development process, Pure Flavor’s R&D team was able to gain valuable insights on both product & plant health to help maximize yield and most importantly, flavor. 

“Our product trials told us a great deal; we knew that it had to be something special that we could scale commercially to meet the demand. After 8 years, we have launched a unique product that our customers are excited about and will breathe new life into the category”, commented Moracci. 

Mildly cool, sweet, and juicy, Solara’s are the first "personal sized, sustainably grown melons from greenhouses that use just the right amount of light, nutrition, and water to deliver the same sweet tastefully tropical flavor, regardless of the season."

“It’s paradise in the palm of your hand! Roughly 500g in size, the sweetness & personal size of the Solara™ Melon makes it a great partner with foods like prosciutto, shrimp, basil, mint, pistachios, we are even using the Melon as a yogurt & granola snack, the product pairings are endless”, said Matt Mastronardi, executive vice president said per the release. Reducing food waste is a key product trait of the Solara Melon as a single serve opportunity; slice in half, easily scoop out the small seed cavity and enjoy! The new personal sized melons are available in both single and multi-pack formats. 

The name “Solara” (Latin for “of the sun”) was chosen because it connotes a tropical setting and a “Fresh Taste of Paradise,” which is the slogan Pure Flavor developed for it. 

“The strategic investment in R&D is done to help grow the industry and help increase fresh produce consumption,” said Moracci. “We are working on more melon varieties and look forward to rolling them out shortly.”