The overseas and Senegal's melon campaign is over and Almeria is taking over as the European markets' main source of production and supplier. This was reported by the Price and Markets Observatory of the Junta de Andalucía in its most recent report on Protected Horticultural Products, corresponding to week 18.
"The production of melon marketed to date is significantly lower than last year, while prices at source are 60 to 70% higher," stated the Andalusian agency.
"The Piel de Sapo melon started to be marketed this week. This type of melon is distributed mostly in the national market, but its exports are increasing by the year, as its size has been adapted to comply with the demand of international markets."
"Cantaloupe melon, consumed mainly by the French market, has about 300 hectares of cultivation in Almeria. Producers expect to achieve good prices this season because of the reduction in the area of this type of melon in France (-10%) and Morocco (-5%) -the main sources of production- as well as in other peninsular regions, and because of a decrease in yields in Almeria."
The Galia melon has experienced the greatest reduction in the area of cultivation this season and has numerous quality incidents that contribute to a significant decrease in its offer at this time. Both circumstances favor that prices remain at very high values, according to the Observatory.
Source: juntadeandalucia.es