Domestic watermelons back to average supply levels next month

Supplies of watermelon are good but both supplies and demand are expected to grow as temperatures warm up across the U.S. “Melons have been in production from Mexico, and Florida has been increasing last week and this week, so availability is a little better now than it has been in the last couple of…

Fyffes responds to protests organized by NGO at Honduran melon farms

Non-governmental organization Global Labor Justice – International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ – ILRF) says that hundreds of Honduran melon workers have protested unsafe working conditions. In a press release, the organization mentioned that seasonal workers marched on the multinational fruit company Fyffes…

“We put all our energy in the offshore melon season”

The US offshore season for melons kicked off early November. “We started with bringing in melons from the Zacapa Valley in Guatemala,” says Mark Cassius, President of Sol Group Marketing, a division of Fyffes. The Zacapa Valley is one of the main melon production regions in Guatemala. It’s a desert…

Growers are venturing into watermelon farming

Watermelons might be yet another high value crop that will accrue revenues for farmers in the Central province. There is a heavy focus on the 'Glory Jumbo' variety. According…

"Ramadan always boosts watermelon sales"

Melon sales are good this week, says Bertus Schipper of Zoutewelle in the Netherlands. "Melons were in very short supply at the start of the season, and prices had never been as high. Those have since fallen slightly but are still very decent." "We're getting the same volumes as last year from Costa Rica,…

Bangladesh starts exporting fruits using reefer containers

For the first time in the country's history, Bangladesh has started exporting fruits using reefer containers. Earlier, only potatoes were exported by sea packed into…

Morocco surpasses Italy as second largest watermelon supplier to EU

Morocco has reached a new milestone in exporting water-intensive watermelon: the country has overtaken Italy to become the second largest supplier of watermelon in the…

"Whatever the market price, we will be even more competitive"

As the watermelon season approaches, producers in several North and West African countries are competing with simultaneous calendars to supply the European market. Mehdi Barbouchi, CEO of Freshe Inn Morocco, issues the challenge: "Whatever the quality and the market price, we will be even more…

Consignment of watermelons sent from Bangladesh to Malaysia

In a first for Bangladesh, a consignment of watermelons has been shipped to Malaysia through Chattogram port by vegetable exporter Sattar International. The consignment of…

CBP officers intercept over $1.5 mln worth of cocaine hidden in watermelon shipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Calexico East Cargo Facility intercepted over $1.5 million worth of cocaine concealed within a shipment of…

Southern Bangladesh watermelon farmers getting good yields, prices

Watermelon farmers in southern Bangladesh are pleased to be getting bumper yields and prices early this season as their produce can now reach markets all over the country…

Watermelon volumes in Morocco will increase this season

Despite the Moroccan government's limitation of the areas where watermelons can be grown, which excluded for example the Zagoura region, a large watermelon region that is experiencing acute hydric stress, this season's watermelon volumes are expected to exceed the levels reached in 2022, according to…

Early start of the melon campaign in Sicily

"Sicily is ready to tackle one of the most anticipated campaigns of the season, which is that of the retato melon," said Carmelo Stagnitto, production manager of Eco Farm in Riesi. The PO, based in the Sicilian hinterland, boasts production facilities in a good part of the island, and therefore also near…

Warmer temperatures may push melon demand up

Supplies of melons from Mexico and Central America continue to be slim. “There’s a bit more available than what had been out there on the market but it’s still a tight market. It’s across the board on all varieties and it’s been like this this whole winter season, starting in January,” says Lance…

New York restaurant serves Crown Melon dessert for $250

At some of the most exclusive restaurants around the world, a once-humble ingredient is stepping into the spotlight. Take, for example, the Japanese Crown Musk Melon, which…

Rio Grande do Norte melon and watermelon exports should drop by 16.6%

According to a projection from the Rio Grande do Norte Fruit Growing Executive Committee (Coex/RN), melon and watermelon exports to the European market are expected to suffer…

Ideal Melon: the new melon that changes color to indicate its maturity level

A melon whose rind changes color to signal its ideal harvest, storage, and consumption time? That's the new melon line developed by Syngenta Vegetable Seeds. The patent-pending technology was presented at this year's Berlin trade fair, where it won the Fruit Logistica Innovation Silver Award 2023. ©…

Fresh & Cash GmbH

"Mauritanian watermelons have interesting potential for the future, especially in the early sector"

The watermelon season in the northern hemisphere has started. Fresh & Cash Ltd in Wuppertal is now loading the first batches from Mauritania. "We now get one truck a week and start the new season several weeks earlier compared to last year. Normally, the season doesn't really get going until April," says…

The Region of Murcia accounts for half of all Spanish melon exports

During his visit to the Gregal cooperative society in Torre-Pacheco, Antonio Luengo, the Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, stated that the Region of…

"Considerably fewer melons being exported from Costa Rica to Europe"

"The unexpected rain in two Costa Rican cultivation areas has resulted in many failed crops and even total losses at melon farms," says Rolf Weber of Global Producers in the Netherlands. "Also, night temperatures in all areas have been three to four degrees lower for months. That's brought watermelon,…

Study finds watermelon intake associated with higher diet quality

The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) recently partnered with Nutrition Impact LLC on a research project to “determine the intake of watermelon and assess association…

"Affected by the cold winter, early Hami melon production in Hainan production areas decreased by 30%"

The sales of Hami melon used to be mainly concentrated in summer, but now it has changed from a seasonal product to a major item that is popular among consumers after apples, pears and watermelons. With the increase in planting scale and the improvement of production technology, it can now be supplied…

Most of the organic watermelons are already being planted in the area of Nijar

According to the Ministry of Agriculture's latest State of the Crops report, in week 7 (February 13 to 19), producers in the pepper greenhouses of Western Almeria continued to…

"Better not exaggerate with melons and watermelon hectares"

Greenhouse transplants of melons and watermelons continue in a staggered manner. However, the next campaign will be characterized by a general drop in cultivated areas both in Italy and abroad. Gavina mini-watermelons Marco Lotta, sales manager in one of the leading fresh produce businesses in Sardinia -…

Indian table grape season moving towards a good pace

After a few weeks’ delay, the grape season in India is finally picking up the pace. Sagar Deore, director for Indian produce exporter Janki Freshyard Private Limited, says a later start of the season has meant that export numbers for early varieties are lower: “The Indian table grape season started late…

DataLiner

Brazilian melon exports dropped, as expected, in January

Brazilian melon exports dropped, as usual, in January. According to data from Secex, the volume shipped in the period was 32,000 tons, down 23% compared to December and 6% compared to January last year. This occurred due to the approaching end of the 2022/23 harvest in Rio Grande do Norte/Ceará and the…

Vietnam fruit and veg orders increase after reopening of Chinese market

Last year, many kinds of fresh fruit received licences to be exported to China through official channel, while many others were allowed to enter other markets. This year,…

Watermelons and oranges flood wholesale markets in Hyderabad

On Monday, between 50 and 80 trucks of watermelons arrived at the Batasingaram fruit market from Mahabubnagar, Zaheerabad, Jogulamba Gadwal and a few districts of neighboring…

Cosarica updates melon branding

The Cosarica brand has modernised both its packaging and the individual labelling of the product. This change, which affects both its range of melons and watermelons, is focused on ensuring that the brand, widely recognized in the market both for the quality of the products marketed under its seal and for its long and…

First own-grown melons to arrive from Costa Rica

Next week, the first watermelons the Staay Food Group has cultivated in Costa Rica will arrive in the Netherlands. "Our Costa Rican branch SFG Dulce consists of six cultivation sites with a total area of 550 hectares. To spread the risk, these are situated over four cultivation areas: Parrita, Orotina,…

Uzbekistan produced 2.42 million tons of melons in 2022

Uzbekistan growers produced 2.42 million tons of melons in 2022, which is 5.9% more compared to 2021, the Statics Agency of Uzbekistan said. An analysis of the total volume of…

Galkia Group comes to Berlin to revolutionise the European Galia melon market

The Galkia Group (Fruca, Gregal and Jimbofresh) will be at Fruit Logistica from the 8th - 10th of February, to promote Galkia melons. The companies will have a dedicated…

The surface devoted to melon and watermelon crops in Almeria's greenhouses will decrease by 15%

"There's a lot of uncertainty regarding the next spring campaign in the province, mainly because producers currently plan to decrease the surface of melon and especially watermelon by 15 to 20%." "According to ASAJA-Almería's first assessment, the decrease is mainly taking place in the West of Almeria.…

"Costa Rican melon season begins with more Cantaloupe and fewer yellow melons"

The Costa Rican melon season will kick off at United Fruits in week 7. Gerbert van Egmond and Frank Levarht run this branch within this Dutch company. They have been operating their own business unit within United fruits, called LEFresh, since July 2022. Importing Costa Rican melons brings the two men…

Watermelon board to present study findings in economic evaluation presentation

National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), along with research partner, Armada Corporate Intelligence, Inc., invite all interested parties to its 2017-2021 Economic…

EU eases melon rules for Honduras

The European Commission has relaxed checks on melons from Honduras. Changes were made as part of updated legislation on the rate of official controls and emergency measures…

MSC is ready to ship melons from Senegal

MSC is offering a direct service dedicated to melons from Senegal, the Spain to/from Senegal service. This seasonal service will enable Senegalese melon producers to export…

“Almeria's yellow melon production is decreasing”

The cold has slowed down Almeria's horticultural production after a whole cycle that could be defined as exhausting for plants. "The high autumn and winter temperatures weakened the plants and advanced all the crops. As a result, we started to see the quality problems that we normally see starting…

‘Thanks to the new resistant melon varieties, clients can count on quality fruits’

Resistances to diseases such as leaf minor and brown spots help melon growers move forward. “Thanks to Rijk Zwaan’s new resistant varieties, we can guarantee clients cleaner fruits, using less chemicals. Our European chain partners can also count on quality fruits with a long shelf life,” says Richard…

Spring planting balances high inputs and economic uncertainty with good markets

With some seeds already being dropped for the July 4th watermelon pull, right now supplies are steady on winter watermelons. “They’re expensive but that’s how they normally are at this time of year,” says Dennis Peterson of Riverbend Fresh LLC. Currently, watermelons are coming from Mexico and will…

The Natural Fruit Company joins the EsAgua Network

Agriculture plays a key role in meeting the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. An example of this commitment to environmental sustainability is that made by The Natural Fruit Company, the last company to join EsAgua, a network of companies committed to the sustainable use of water and the measurement of the water…

Researchers look into blueberry quality issues for Georgia producers

A team of University of Georgia agriculture experts are working to determine causes and solutions to postharvest quality problems that have affected Georgia’s blueberry…

The area devoted to watermelons in Nijar is lower than in previous campaigns

According to the latest State of the Crops report of the Junta de Andalucia, corresponding to the week between January 9 and 15, producers in the greenhouses of the region of…

“Sustainability is one of our main goals”

As a leading importer and distributor of specialty fruits, vegetables and marine produce in Malaysia, Euro-Atlantic trades fruits from all over the world each year. At this moment, imports account for 90% of its business and domestic sales account for the other 10%. For Euro-Atlantic, in recent years,…

Azerbaijan: Fruit exports value increased in 2022

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the total value of Azerbaijan’s fruit exports increased in 2022. This figure amounted to nearly $450 million, up by 9.4 percent on…

"This year there will be less watermelon and melon and the extra-early segment will suffer the most"

The weather is one factor that is as uncontrollable as it is decisive in fruit and vegetable campaigns. At this same time last year, Storm Filomena hit Spain with, literally, paralyzing cold, while this year, January started in Andalusia after the warmest December on record, with 2.9 degrees above…

Vietnam: Gold bar-shaped watermelons fetch US$65

A pair of watermelons, shaped like gold bars, have been sold by Mekong Delta farmer Dong Thap in the southern metropolis’s market for VND1.5 million (US$65) a pair. He is not…

Watermelons are top crop for Riverland grower

A farmer in South Australia's Riverland is expanding his watermelon plantings, as produce prices remain stable and the fruit's hard skin protects it against pests. The region…

USDA makes mushroom and watermelon appointments

The USDA has announced the appointment of three members to serve on the Mushroom Council as well as 10 members to serve on the National Watermelon Promotion Board.  Mushroom CouncilFor…

Kenyan trader reaps rewards from watermelon business

A while back, Kenyan entrepreneur Stephen Kinyua identified a gap in the supply of watermelons in Tharaka Nithi County and more specifically Chuka town that was rapidly…

Niagara melon rootstock by TSI Italia

The three main characteristics of Niagara, the new melon rootstock about to be launched by TSI Italia, are vigor, rusticity and productiveness. Niagara melon rootstocks by TSI ItaliaAfter four years of screenings, field tests and trials with both public and private bodies, the technicians at TSI Italia -…

Second 2021 outbreak in the UK was due to imported watermelons from Spanish companies

The United Kingdom was hit by two outbreaks linked to melon in 2021, according to a recently released study. It was already known that the country was part of a multi-country…