Nunhems USA and Lady Luck take Grasmick to Lady Liberty
Nunhems USA and Lady Luck take Grasmick to Lady Liberty
Southeast Colorado watermelon grower Bill Grasmick and his wife, Lauren, are planning a weekend adventure in New York City later this summer, courtesy of Nunhems USA Inc.
Mr. Grasmick's name was drawn in April in Nunhems' nationwide "Give Me Liberty" Sweepstakes, and he could not be happier. "Oh, gosh. I thought it was one of those deals where they tell you, 'You've won something,' and then you find out the rest of the story," he told The Produce News.
The Nunhems sweepstakes promoted the Liberty hybrid seedless watermelon, a variety that Mr. Grasmick grows in Granada, CO. His family has been growing watermelons and onions for 100 years, and Mr. Grasmick is the president of Grasmick Inc., a company he formed with his three brothers in the mid-1970s. The company farms 200 acres of watermelons in Colorado's Arkansas Valley, and the operation also has land in two Texas communities, Pharr and Uvalde, where there are plans to grow watermelons as well.
According to Mr. Grasmick, market dynamics are giving a boost to seedless watermelon sales. "We're basically all seedless," he said. "There is a greater demand for seedless and better prices, normally."
Bob Miller, watermelon crop sales manager for Nunhems USA, echoed similar sentiments. "In North America, the watermelon market has rapidly moved from seeded to seedless," he said, adding that market share for seedless watermelons "has risen from 40 percent to 60 percent over the past three years."
The Liberty seedless watermelon is a crimson sweet variety with a deep red flesh and robust flavor, Mr. Miller said. The variety is in its third year of commercial production.
Grasmick Inc. markets watermelons seven months out of the year, and Mr. Grasmick said that a variety like the Liberty will give the company a chance to extend its marketing window. "Watermelon is one of the commodities there seems to be a demand for year round," Mr. Grasmick said.
Bill and Lauren Grasmick have already given some thought to the high points of their coming adventure in New York City and have decided to take in at least one Broadway show, have dinner at Tavern on the Green, tour the financial district and visit the Statue of Liberty.
Mr. Grasmick's name was drawn in April in Nunhems' nationwide "Give Me Liberty" Sweepstakes, and he could not be happier. "Oh, gosh. I thought it was one of those deals where they tell you, 'You've won something,' and then you find out the rest of the story," he told The Produce News.
The Nunhems sweepstakes promoted the Liberty hybrid seedless watermelon, a variety that Mr. Grasmick grows in Granada, CO. His family has been growing watermelons and onions for 100 years, and Mr. Grasmick is the president of Grasmick Inc., a company he formed with his three brothers in the mid-1970s. The company farms 200 acres of watermelons in Colorado's Arkansas Valley, and the operation also has land in two Texas communities, Pharr and Uvalde, where there are plans to grow watermelons as well.
According to Mr. Grasmick, market dynamics are giving a boost to seedless watermelon sales. "We're basically all seedless," he said. "There is a greater demand for seedless and better prices, normally."
Bob Miller, watermelon crop sales manager for Nunhems USA, echoed similar sentiments. "In North America, the watermelon market has rapidly moved from seeded to seedless," he said, adding that market share for seedless watermelons "has risen from 40 percent to 60 percent over the past three years."
The Liberty seedless watermelon is a crimson sweet variety with a deep red flesh and robust flavor, Mr. Miller said. The variety is in its third year of commercial production.
Grasmick Inc. markets watermelons seven months out of the year, and Mr. Grasmick said that a variety like the Liberty will give the company a chance to extend its marketing window. "Watermelon is one of the commodities there seems to be a demand for year round," Mr. Grasmick said.
Bill and Lauren Grasmick have already given some thought to the high points of their coming adventure in New York City and have decided to take in at least one Broadway show, have dinner at Tavern on the Green, tour the financial district and visit the Statue of Liberty.
