FUNKY FARMERS MARKET TRY A TINY MELON OR RAINBOW CARROTS.

Byline: Candice Choi Staff Writer

Who says Mother Nature can't be improved upon?

Not the makers of a baby watermelon and a string of smaller, sweeter produce products that are more jam-packed with nutrients than the ones nature cooked up.

The Bambino watermelon, developed by Oxnard-based seed developer Seminis, is such a smash that Time magazine named it one of the coolest inventions of 2004, alongside such innovations as strapless goggles, translucent concrete and computerized shoes. Weighing just four pounds, the canteloupe-size fruit is popular with everyone from singles to people on the go.

``The trend is toward smaller, more convenient foods,'' said Lindsay Hutchinson, business development director for Seminis.

Marcie Frumpkin, spokeswoman for Whole Foods market, said the smaller watermelons were an instant hit as soon as the grocer began carrying them a few months ago - especially among people who are ``looking for something a bit more manageable.''

More recently, Hutchinson said, an increase in health awareness is leading to interest in the company's other super seeds, such as the orange cauliflower and rainbow carrots that recently became available nationwide. The rainbow carrots come in a variety of shades that indicate certain health benefits; the deep red carrots, for example, boast as much lycopene as a tomato.

Seminis is working on a broccoli that will have 80 times the cancer-fighting abilities of regular broccoli.

The company first made its mark in the 1980s when it introduced baby carrots to the world. Another popular breed was the ``no-heat'' jalepenos, which are now widely used to make milder salsas.

``These inventions can have a dramatic impact on the way food is produced and consumed,'' said Gary Koppenjan, spokesman for Seminis.

That's particularly true for the restaurant industry; the melons and much of the other produce harvested from Seminis seeds also have twice the shelf life of their average counterparts.

``Restaurants are always looking for that kind of thing,'' said Greg Gattis, vice president of sales and marketing for Missionero Vegetables, which grows and distributes the ``lettuce jammers'' developed by Seminis.

The seed for lettuce jammers was produced by crossing romaine and iceberg lettuce. Restaurants use the sturdier hybrid to make low-carb sandwiches and Asian appetizers.

It's not just the stronger texture, but the sweeter taste and longer shelf life that make lettuce jammers popular, Gattis said.

Lettuce jammers are now available at Wal-Mart, but Gattis said it usually takes the public longer than the industry to embrace such products.

After going national just a few weeks ago, however, the orange cauliflower is already enjoying enormous success, said Leah Maginnis, marketing manager for Colorful Harvest, which grows and distributes the vegetables.

Colorful Harvest is planning on tripling the quantity as soon it starts planting again to reap the popular new veggie, she said.

The ``super broccoli'' Seminis is working on is poised to find an equally enthusiastic audience; Koppenjan said it will likely be a few years before it starts popping up in grocery store aisles.

Candice Choi, [phone]

candice.choi(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Andres Tapia stacks watermelons at Whole Foods in Woodland Hills on Monday. Miniature watermelons and other designer fruits and vegetables are gaining in popularity.

(2 -- color) New, smaller watermelons will soon be joined by rainbow carrots and orange cauliflower.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer