Early Bender

Reticulatus type. Medium sized fruit is globular to elliptic with heavily corked/netted skin and intermediate ribbing. Skin matures to yellow. Fruit is 4.3-6.3" long, 4-6" wide, and weighs 2-4 lbs. Fruit has an average rind thickness less than 0.5" thick and thicker flesh 1-1.5" thick. Interior aroma present. Rich flavor, sweet and juicy with a smooth creamy texture. Low productivity, early maturing, and susceptible to anthracnose when grown in 2014 at Heritage Farm. Donated to SSE by Doug Egeland (NY EG D), who acquired this variety from the USDA (NSL 31341). The USDA received this variety in 1964 from the Gill Brothers seed company of Portland, OR. SSE Accession # 113362