MATURITY REQUIREMENTS

·       THE WATERMELONS MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED AND DISPLAY SATISFACTORY RIPENESS. THE COLOUR AND TASTE OF THE FLESH SHOULD CONFORM TO A SUFFICIENT STATE OF RIPENESS.

·       SHAPE, SIZE, FLESH AND SURFACE COLOUR ACCORDING TO THE VARIETY GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATURITY LEVEL.

·       IN ORDER TO SATISFY THIS REQUIREMENT, THE REFRACTOMETRIC INDEX OF THE FLESH MEASURED AT THE MIDDLE POINT OF THE FRUIT FLESH AT THE EQUATORIAL SECTION MUST BE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 8° BRIX.

·       THE INTENT OF SETTING A MINIMUM LIMIT IS TO ASSURE THAT FRUITS ARE HARVESTED AT A MATURITY STAGE WHICH ENABLES THEM TO ENTER THE DISTRIBUTION CHAIN IN GOOD CONDITION AND GOOD EATING QUALITY.

·       OBJECTIVE METHODS TO DETERMINE REFRACTOMETRIC INDEX ARE DESCRIBED IN THE GUIDELINES ON OBJECTIVE TESTS TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND DRY AND DRIED PRODUCE .

·       NAME OF ILLUSTRATION WATERMELONS

o   DEVELOPMENT AND RIPENESS