Watermelons still quite expensive in Australia

Watermelons are being sold at Coles for $4.50 a kilo. Woolworths is selling the fruit for $3.90 per kilo, with prices varying slightly from state to state. Domestic suppliers…

Pricing picking up on California melons

Supplies of cantaloupe and honeydew melons out of California look to be tightening up. “This week, there’s a change in the industry. We’re now getting a few more calls from other shippers asking if we have extra volume after covering our commitments and contracts to help them cover their commitments,”…

EastFruit

Uzbekistan to exceed 100,000 tons of watermelon exports for the first time

EastFruit experts have repeatedly drawn attention to Uzbekistan’s rapid increase fresh watermelon exports in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, the country exported 81.8 thousand tons of watermelons, which became a historical record, beating the previous one by 67%. In 2023 Uzbekistan has already exceeded this…

© Aughty Venable | Dreamstime.com

Quarantine pests found in melon and tomato shipments from Uzbekistan in the Orenburg region

On September 18 and 19, officials of the territorial department of Rosselkhoznadzor, identified quarantine pests in four batches of fresh melons received from Uzbekistan. Namely: the polyphagous humpback fly (Megaselia scalaris) and the melon fly (Myiopardalis pardalina). The total volume of contaminated…

“Throughout September, we will continue supplying Spanish watermelons to all our customers ”

The demand for watermelons has been reactivated in Europe, as temperatures have reached over 30 degrees in much of the continent, giving a boost to the Spanish open ground watermelon campaign at this time when, despite the approaching end of the season, there is still a significant supply available.…

"Next season, we want to introduce Limelon to the French, Spanish, and Portuguese markets"

The 2023 melon season will make history as the most erratic, says Hans van den Heuvel of the Dutch company HillFresh International. That is due to the harsh weather conditions. "Despite that, we're delighted with how our Limelon performed this year," he begins. HillFresh introduced this surprisingly sweet-tasting…

"We sold out of everything."

Despite a lower average yield, a late start to the harvest and lower sales, the watermelon season in Sardinia seems to have been positive. Salvatore Lotta (pictured below), commercial director of Agricola Campidanese, a growers' organization under the L'Orto di Eleonora brand, shares his opinion on the past season. "There are…

Spain is no longer the EU's top melon supplier after sales plummeted by 45.96%

According to data compiled by Hortoinfo from the statistical services of Euroestacom (ICEX-Eurostat), Spain is no longer the leading supplier of melons to European Union…

World's most expensive melons still fetching high prices at auction

While melons in the market or supermarket should not break the bank, there's one variety that may leave you astounded by its price. This unique melon is exclusively grown in Japan and goes by the name "Yubari King." It's believed to be the world's priciest fruit, cultivated solely in Yubari city on…

Myanmar exported over 113,000 tons of watermelon to China in first eight months of 2023

According to the Fruit Commodity Exchange at Muse border post, watermelons exported from Myanmar to China via border trade route amounted to over 113,000 tons between January…

The Lebanese fresh produce sector will be in the spotlight in the coming weeks

Last September, Piet Schotel of the Center for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) and Fresh Publishers manager, Pieter Boekhout, took a work trip to Moldova. They visited some 15 fruit growers in this small European country, wedged between Ukraine and Romania. You can read all about…

Good prices for Peruvian blueberries in China

The early lower and delayed volumes of Peruvian blueberries is not all bad news as prices in the China market are trending higher. Following last week’s Asia Fruit Logistica, Alejandro Sanhueza, Director of blueberry sales and operational planning for Agrovision Peru, could visit markets and see prices…

Texas A&M University research suggests that watermelons may have the same properties as Viagra

Thanks to their vibrant colors and sweet flavor, watermelons are a symbol of the summer season. However, according to a study released by scientists at Texas A&M University,…

The exports of summer fruits and vegetables decreased by 9.3% in Greece

The harvest of summer fruits and vegetables in Greece proceeded at a faster pace compared to last year. The volumes of fresh produce exports decreased by 9.3% compared to the…

The incredibly priced watermelons from Japan

The Densuke watermelon, cultivated in Japan, is often referred to as the black watermelon. What sets these watermelons apart is their unique cultivation process. They are…

Xinjiang farmers enjoy bumper harvest of Hami melons

More than 2,600 hectares of Hami melons has recently entered harvest season in Naomaohu Town of Yiwu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The town is…

Pecém's fresh fruit export season has started

Last Friday, the 2023/2024 season for exporting fresh fruit through the Pecém Port Terminal. The initial shipment was 2,500 tons and included melons, watermelons, mangoes and…

1147 tons of sub-quarantine products were exported to Kemerovo region from Kyrgyzstan

During the first seven months of 2023, the officials of the Rosselkhoznadzor in the Kemerovo region, also known as Kuzbass, inspected 8176.9 tons of berries and vegetables.…

Tight melon supplies around the corner

Supply shortages on cantaloupe and honeydew melons could be ahead. “We’re entering a period where yields will fall off significantly and go either to normal or below normal through October,” says Garrett Patricio of Westside Produce, adding that the company started to see a change about a week ago. He…

Eurostat

Spain’s yields of summer related fruits down -6.3% in 2022

In 2022, the EU’s combined harvested production of muskmelons, watermelons, strawberries, peaches and nectarines was 8.6 million tons, representing a decrease of 6.3% on the level in 2021 (9.2 million tons). This downturn was due to the lower harvested production of muskmelons (-9.5% in 2022) and…

Don't play with food!

Your parents were right when they told you that you shouldn't play with food. Especially if you ever thought about playing at being a samurai by cutting a watermelon with a catana... Source: youtube.com

Melon, watermelon, papaya and mango: the fruit that carries so much weight in Rio Grande do Norte

Fruit growing is the main agricultural activity in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Among the most prominent crops are melon, watermelon, papaya and mango, the fruits that are the flagship of state production. The Brazilian Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Derivatives (Abrafrutas)…

"We have satisfactory quantities of Uzbek melons with good qualities"

Melons from Uzbekistan have been making their way into the German trade for several years. Three years ago, the Duisburg-based company disFruta also started marketing this product. "We purchase 20 tons of melons daily, which we receive directly from Uzbekistan. The qualities are very good this year. The…

Record-breaking bumper crop of UK-grown watermelons on the way

Great news for watermelon fans: a record-breaking bumper UK-grown crop is on the way. Shoppers will be able to judge for themselves when the predicted 11,000 UK-grown watermelons, the largest yield ever produced in Britain, exclusively hit Tesco shelves this week. The fruit was produced by the UK’s…

Latvian melons are becoming ever more popular

Growing melons and watermelons in Latvia is still a bit unconventional, but there are more and more growers who are ready to experiment. Demand for local produce is high.…

"Belgian melon production improves annually, but bad weather hampers sales"

Belgian melons gain popularity in that country every year. But despite that, the season has been quite challenging on the market so far. "Production and quality have been fantastic, but the weather's been somewhat disappointing, so sales have been underwhelming too. I've never seen anyone buy melons…

Demand for traditional watermelons has increased by 30% in one week

Giuseppe Petrocelli, sales manager at Ortofrutta Metapontum, smiles when asked about the current production and commercial trend. "It has not been easy to grow watermelons this year because of the weather, characterized by abundant rain in June and torrid heat in July, leading to a 40% drop in volumes.…

Watermelon prices in Moldova continue to decline

Wholesale prices for watermelon have been declining quite rapidly on the Moldovan market. Judging by the weekly wholesale price monitoring of EastFruit, the average price for…

Development of vegetable cultivation in Odessa region has some road blocks

Although agricultural producers in the Odessa region are expanding the acreage of vegetable crops, there are a couple of obstacles, says the Director of the Department of…

Beautiful watermelon season in Italy, except for mid-August

"Ferragosto week (week 33) has just ended and the hot weather is calling for a refreshing slice of watermelon. Our mini watermelons and the traditional crisp and sweet watermelons are still available in Lidl stores in southern Italy and will remain so for about ten days,” according to Bartolomeo…

Embrapa reinforces rural development in Rio Grande do Norte

Although it does not have an Embrapa research center, Rio Grande do Norte is a territory that is home to the development of various technologies through the constant work of…

Sitthipong Japanese melons are a hit in Bangkok

Consumers in Bangkok highly appreciate the Sitthipong Japanese melons. The perfect T-shaped peduncle reflects the premium quality. “It is sold out before competing varieties,” Sitthipong Amataphan explains. He is the exclusive supplier of premium melons for Thailand’s high-end retailers. Innovative…

"From mid-June to early September, we have about 1,300 tons at our disposal"

Summertime classically also means melon time, at least as long as the weather cooperates. Francesco Calabrese, Managing Director of Euro-Fruit GmbH, was only able to start selling his watermelons in mid-June, but the season will also extend accordingly until the beginning of September. "Our main item in…

Canary melon prices surge in Brazil due to high demand from Europe

Between 14 and 18 August, the cost of canary melons in the Brazilian domestic market saw an upswing in the Rio Grande do Norte/Ceará region. The 5 to 8 variety concluded the period with an average selling price of R$ 40.94 per 13 kg box, reflecting an 8% increase. Industry insiders attributed this price…

Melon and watermelon prices must not be manipulated and the sector must comply with the Food Chain Law

In the face of the sharp drop in melon and watermelon prices last week, ASAJA Castilla-La Mancha demanded that the production costs be respected. The vice president of the…

Italian melons and watermelons still teetering

There are approximately 350 hectares invested in melons and watermelons this year by the producers' organization O.P Agricola Campidanese. So far, 75 per cent of the produce has already been harvested and placed on the market, but the current campaign seems to have more lows than highs. It is an…

Twitter.com

Watermelon spillage cause of delays on M25

After a load of watermelons dropped from a lorry, the M25 had to partially be closed while the motorway was cleared of the fruit. The spillage occurred on the clockwise carriageway at junction 31 near Purfleet, Essex. The National Highways posted that all lanes have been reopened following the clear-up.…

Brazilian fruit exports are surging

The global urge for healthier diets have boosted Brazilian exports of fresh and healthy products. The 19% increase in turnover and the 2% increase in volume in the last…

Contaminated watermelons withdrawn from Marjane supermarket in Agadir

Morocco’s Food Safety Office (ONSSA) has ordered the withdrawal of all watermelon products from a Marjane supermarket in the city of Agadir. Examinations conducted on samples…

"Mild Belgian summer dampens melon sales"

In Belgium, the last few weeks' bad weather has been affecting typical summer fruit sales. Van Dijk Foods has been receiving melons from France for the past month, but sales…

Watermelon and melon prices in Russia have gone up 30%

Analysts from the ATOL company in Russia conducted a study on the cost of watermelons and melons before the start of the season, as well as examined changes in prices for…

"With the start of the campaign in La Mancha, there is stability in the Piel de Sapo melon supply and prices"

As the entire sector expected, the start of the melon harvest in Castile-La Mancha has put an end to the significant shortage observed in the month of July, which was a consequence of the difficulties experienced in Murcia. The situation had put many companies specialized in this fruit against the ropes,…

Brazilian mango and melon projections quite positive for the next ten years

Brazilian fruits have shown increasing importance, both in the domestic and foreign markets. From January to June this year, the value of exports (including walnuts and chestnuts) was US$ 533.3 million, and the amount exported was 483.300 tons, shipped to more than 120 countries. The European Union is…

"Qilin watermelons concentrated on the market, current market is in a downturn"

Qilin watermelons produced in Gansu, China, have been on the market since late July. It is understood that due to the weather this year, the seasons of several key production areas of Qilin watermelon in summer are close to each other, and the excess volumes have led to a decline in the market. "The…

Resealable watermelon pouch helps sliced watermelon shelf life

Maglio's ReadyRipe™ is a reusable and resealable watermelon pouch that naturally keeps watermelon fresh and sweet for an extended period of time. This solution gives sliced watermelons a longer shelf life, naturally enhanced quality and convenience. Sam Maglio, president and CEO of Maglio Companies,…

"As soon as Metis plums are available, all operators want them"

The Metis plum campaign, managed in Italy by Op Granfrutta Zani and Minguzzi, is off to a good start. "Harvesting started early in southern Italy. As soon as Metis plums are available, all operators want them. Grades are good and organoleptic quality is very satisfactory. Thinning is the only way to…

The Ukrainian market is currently seeing a lot of imported melons

The harvesting season for melon crops in Ukraine has just started, beginning a week earlier than last year. Despite earlier forecasts, there is no shortage of watermelons in…

A group of scientists manages to grow watermelons in the coldest place on Earth

Scientists of the 68th Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, together with colleagues from the Institute of Agrophysical Research and…

“The Jenga has what it takes to entice both producers and consumers”

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the marketing of the Charentais melon variety, Jenga, the reference in terms of taste within the Gautier range. To celebrate in style, Gautier Semences created an anniversary logo and a specific communication campaign from July to October. “The event kicked off on July 14…

Shortages lead to doubling of prices of two of the most popular summer fruits in Malaga

As greengrocers in Malaga suffer a shortage of supply in the popular summer fruits, prices of watermelons and melons has doubled. One of the farmers who grows watermelon in…

EU production of summer-related fruits down -6.3% in 2022

In 2022, the EU’s combined harvested production of muskmelons, watermelons, strawberries, peaches and nectarines was 8.6 million tonnes, representing a decrease of 6.3% on the level in 2021 (9.2 million tonnes). This is according to a report by Eurostat. This downturn was due to the lower harvested…

"In Germany and France, the demand for melon and watermelon continues to rise, despite the high prices"

The supply of melons and watermelons, the summer fruits par excellence, is scarce at this time, while Europe is scorching due to the heat waves Cerberus and Charon, which have caused temperatures to reach record levels in various parts of the continent. "At a domestic level, we've been having difficulties…

eurostat

EU production of summer related fruits was down -6.3% in 2022

In 2022, the EU’s combined harvested production of muskmelons, watermelons, strawberries, peaches and nectarines was 8.6 million tonnes, representing a decrease of 6.3% on the level in 2021 (9.2 million tonnes). This downturn was due to the lower harvested production of muskmelons (-9.5% in 2022) and…

Zero residue melons in full harvest in Italy

"The harvest is in full swing now. Our melon is making the most out of the weather and there is high demand both from abroad and from Italy, also thanks to the zero-residue certification," says Christopher Bernardi, of the Ortofrutta Bernardi company in Rimini. Francesco Fabbri, Christopher Bernardi and Armando…

CDC researcher outlines multistate salmonella outbreaks linked to Indiana-grown melons

Laura Gieraltowski, lead of the Foodborne Outbreak Response Team at the CDC’s Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental…

DataLiner

Brazilian investments in tech and infrastructure are paying off

Brazilian fruit production has invested in technology and infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, refrigerated storage, and efficient logistics, to improve the quality and conservation of the exported fruits. Luckily, the global demand for fresh and healthy products has benefited Brazilian fruit…

"We have to expect yield losses with Turkish grapes"

The continuing heat and drought in large parts of the Mediterranean region is having a noticeable effect on the supply of summer fruit, especially melons and stone fruit, he said. "In Spain, there have already been many problems with the quality of the fruit produced there for weeks," says Enes Cakmak,…

"Fruit always sells well in the summer, despite higher prices"

The sun is out, and temperatures are soaring. This is the time for summer fruit at Belgian traders and products like strawberries, cherries, and raspberries fly off the shelves. This year is no exception. The local summer product par excellence, strawberries, may have arrived a bit later, but there are…

"We currently sell two containers of Turkish watermelon per day"

Visit Fresh Park Venlo, and you cannot avoid Naki Groothandel. Naki Güneser's company has been at that Dutch business park for ten years, the last few in two warehouses at the front of the site. The next generation has since also joined the family business. Over the past decade, this wholesaler has made…

Pricing likely to soften on California watermelon

Watermelon out of California is about to be more ample in supply. “After the planting gap with the rains that we had earlier in the year, which was foreseen, we’ve got production starting to come in from fields that were put in later. So we have a flush of melon supply coming from Central California for…

Valencian melon and watermelon growers suffer direct losses estimated at 44 million Euro

La Unió Llauradora estimates that melon and watermelon producers in the Spanish Region of Valencia will suffer 44 million Euro in direct losses this season because of the impact of the weather, which has halved the harvest of both crops. According to the estimates of the professional agricultural…

"Spanish watermelon supply still extremely limited"

This year's melon market is particularly challenging. "We have a close relationship with our Spanish shipper Amador, so we can still get some Piel de Sapo and watermelons. But the supply's very limited and not cheap either," says Willem Dijk Jr of the Dutch company Willem Dijk AGF. "And then there are only…

"The cost of melons from Minqin is rising and the market competition is fierce"

The honeydew melon production season in Minqin, Gansu has started. Affected by extensive frost in Northwest China from April to May, this year's production season was delayed by about ten days. The main varieties of melons in Minqin include Jinhongbao melons with yellow skin and red flesh and the No. 25…

High prices at the start of Castilla-La Mancha's melon and watermelon campaign

The harvest of melons and watermelons has just started in Castilla-La Mancha. Producers expect normal yields and a gradual end to the shortage that still prevails in the European market. “We started the campaign in La Mancha the week of July 17,” stated Tomás García-Escribano, CEO of Cincofresh. "Prices…

In April, Morocco sold more watermelon in the EU than Spain and at a higher price

According to data prepared by Hortoinfo, in April of this year, Morocco sold a total of 9.14 million kilos of watermelon to EU markets. This is 248.8% more volume than Spain…

In June 2023, Uzbekistan continued to increase the volume of watermelon exports

In early June, EastFruit wrote that this year the season for exporting Uzbek watermelon of the new crop started very successfully. In May of this year Uzbekistan exported…

"Sky-high prices slowing melon sales"

The melon and watermelon market situations are currently particularly difficult. "Supplies are very limited. Spain has almost no melons, but there's hardly any demand here if you have some. But that will pick up at some point, and then you have to have them," says Jacob Aktalan of MG Fruit in the…

Hungarian watermelon sector performs well this year

The National Chamber of Agriculture (NAK), the Hungarian Fruit and Vegetable Producers’ Alliance (FruitVeB) and the Hungarian Melon Farmers Association (MDE) have told the…

Will high watermelon prices remain in Moldova in the second half of summer?

Last season in terms of several characteristics, first – consistently high prices throughout the entire sales period – was abnormal for the Moldovan watermelon market. The…

Watermelon production transitioning in Midwest and Southeast

There’s plenty of availability of melons right now from the Southeastern and Midwestern parts of the U.S. “We’re seeing a little bit more fruit this year than last year and that’s largely because the crop in Georgia is producing more volume. It also started a little later and is running longer,” says…

"Slightly lower melon volumes, but good prices"

The new melon season is in full swing at Euro Gijbels' production site in Catalonia. This year's harvest was two weeks earlier than last year's but with similar yields. "There's perhaps slightly less volume, but there's already noticeably much demand, so prices are favorable," begins John Gijbels. The Belgian…

Florida watermelon growers sold a bumper crop this year

While many of you enjoy sweet, cool watermelon as a treat or snack this summer, remember where it comes from – the sweat of farmers, and some Florida growers say they had…

"It is the only all-Italian watermelon that brings new life to a variety that has remained behind for thirty years"

Almost 9,000 tons of product for 200 hectares of cultivation are the statistics presented by the Dolce Passione Consortium on 13 July 2023 at a press conference in Sermide, a village in the Italian province of Mantua. Click here for the photo gallery A moment from the field visit "Dolce Passione is the result of…

Prices for watermelons by Italy's Nardò are not those of a newly started campaign

"We are supplying our customers every other day, with an average of more than 15 tons of watermelons each. At the moment, there is a high demand, and prices are also high, and there seems to be no shortage of product, also because the harvest has now started in all the main Italian production areas,…

“Melon Fujisawa RZ creates a ‘wow’ experience”

“The very special combination of Brix, flavour and size of this melon creates a ‘wow’ experience for consumers,” states Vivian Wang from Dole® in China. This company continuously wants to surprise its Chinese customers, and the quincy melon Fujisawa RZ is a perfect way to do that. Distinctive products…

Volume of Brazilian watermelons exported to Europe has nearly tripled in the past 10 years

Brazilian watermelon exports have been increasing, with European countries being its largest buyers. According to data from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (SECEX), the…

Portuguese mini watermelon season kicks off

The Portuguese watermelon is about to get going, and one company specializes in the miniature version of the watermelons. Tania Silva, who does sales for Rush Farms Portugal, states that they’ve managed to increase production for their mini watermelons every year so far: “Our mini watermelon campaign…

Hungarian watermelon growers claim that prices are not right

Hungarian watermelon growers claim that Penny supermarket offers Hungarian watermelons at such a low prices this week, that they cannot cover the production costs. According…

Mississippi watermelon harvest is underway

Mississippi watermelon producers are harvesting all out as rains are ramping up, increasing the likelihood of disease and ruined melons. Heath Steede, Mississippi State…

"Hot weather in Europe and Hungary forcing people to consume more watermelons”

Hungary’s melon and watermelon season has started slowly and will be in full swing from next week as sizzling hot summer weather leads to increased consumption. However, the melon season is delayed by 10 days, with the recent hot weather speeding up development. Watermelons for sale in a local Hungarian…

"We need better tools to forecast the consequences of adverse weather"

Over the last four weeks, the supply of Spanish watermelon has been severely limited due to the impact of the abundant rainfall and heat waves recorded in May and June in the producing areas of the Levante and the southwest of the Peninsula. This has resulted in a supply shortage in Europe and tension in…

Watermelons from Northern and Western Morocco will be available soon

After the end of the first half of the Moroccan watermelon season, with crops coming in from Zagora and other regions of southern Morocco, growers in Larache (north) and Gharb (west) are entering the market with imminent harvests. Zniker Omar, owner and CEI of Souir Berry, located near Larache, said,…

Poor weather in May and early June has led to shortage of melons in Mallorca

Poor weather in May and early June is a reason for a current shortage of melons in Mallorca. We are talking melons produced locally as well as imported from the mainland.…

"Clients keep returning for our own brand Dumara watermelons"

The Moroccan Dumara watermelon season is in full swing at Ibrahim Nieuwegein, a fruit and vegetable/meat wholesaler in the Netherlands. "We carry these under our own brand Lamyae. They're bright red and have excellent brix levels. Customers genuinely keep returning for this brand," Mohammed Arab says…

Haut-Poitou Melon PGI celebrates 25 years

Melons from the Haut-Poitou region are usually harvested from July onwards, but this year’s excellent spring weather conditions have been favorable to their growth, shortening the ripening cycle by a week. The campaign began on June 25th and will last until the end of September. A special campaign, since…

"If it's stays hot, we won't have problems in placing the watermelons."

They may be difficult to transport, but traditional watermelons continue to have their important market share, despite changes in consumer purchasing habits. This trend was confirmed by Giuseppe Petrocelli, sales manager of Ortofrutta Metapontum, who has been receiving dozens of calls for supplies, as a…

Taking a look at the Top 10 most expensive fruits in the world

Fruit will inevitably cost more or less, depending on the variety and where you are in the world. Still, there are of course the very exclusive fruits, that are a category on…

"We have practically no access to any Galia or Cantaloupe melons from Murcia"

"We had high expectations because it seemed that this was going to be a normal year, and that we were going to have a good amount of fruit and good prices, but Almeria has already finished, and in Murcia we are dealing with significant shortages due to the weather conditions, which took a toll on the…

Melons from Uzbekistan vs Spanish melons in the supermarkets of Latvia

According to EastFruit, a melon from Uzbekistan has reappeared in supermarkets in Latvia, which is positioned as the “Central Asian melon”. The retail price for this melon is…

"European melon cultivation challenges make Brazilian supply a good, reliable alternative"

“It sounds very surprising - year-round Brazilian melons - but our permanent partner Agricola Famosa has been growing melons throughout the year for some time," says Leon van den Hombergh of Frankort & Koning. "With the…

Murcia celebrates the Melon & Watermelon Innovation Days

July kicks off with the celebration of the Melon & Watermelon Innovation Days. This is an event where the main Spanish and international seed houses with experimentation centers and farms in the Region of Murcia open their doors to professionals in the agricultural sector to show them their latest…

"Surprisingly stable qualities in Turkish watermelons"

"We started the season for Turkish watermelons about three weeks ago," Murat Günes from Westfalen Frischdienst GmbH informs us. "The season for Moroccan produce is now over. With the Spanish goods there are currently again considerable quality problems, which is why we have decided to fall back on…

Can Morocco compete in the market of round seedless watermelons?

The overall majority of Moroccan watermelon growers produce seeded varieties, with large sizes reaching 8-12 and up to 30 kg per melon. This type of watermelon represents the bulk of Moroccan volumes, with over 99%, and this varietal choice has its advantages and limits. Obeida Mansour, CEO of Universal…

"The first two weeks of July will still be complicated for melons."

While consumption is high, there is a lack of product, and people are flocking to buy melons. "Prices have risen to unprecedented numbers," says Bruno Francescon of Mantuafruit, a melon specialist, "even though this shortage was expected, which will go on for the first 15 days of July. Then it will be…

Hokkaido growers present the lemon melon

Sources say that Hokkaido farmers have produced an fruit that is round, juicy and sweet like a melon but slightly sour like a lemon. The fruit is, fittingly, called the Lemon…

"In Austrian stores, conventional complements organic"

With this nice weather, plenty of watermelons are being loaded in Southern Europe, destined for the northern countries. Fruitprint, a Dutch company that links retailers and distributors directly with organic growers worldwide, organizes watermelon sales from Greece, delivering most to Austrian and Danish…

"In July there could be a huge gap in the melon supply"

At the current stage of the summer, and with the melon campaign coming to an end in Almeria, it should be time for the Region of Murcia's season to be in full swing; however, as a result of the problems caused by intermittent rains in June, the amount of fruit in Murcian plantations has suffered a…

Wiggins Watermelons produces great fruit in Caldwell, Texas

Watermelon cultivation is widespread across more than 40% of Texas' counties and rural regions. Caldwell is home to one the largest annual crop of watermelons, with millions…

Spain's melon and watermelon area and production volume continue to fall

According to a recent campaign report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, the area devoted to melon and watermelon production in 2023 has been singularly…

"The product is currently very scarce, which makes it correspondingly more expensive"

The heat in Italy is not only causing poorer quality watermelons and netted melons, but above all crop failures. "The product is currently very scarce, which also makes it correspondingly more expensive. Reticulated melons have recently had a price increase of 50 percent, but the price of watermelons has…

Square watermelon shipments start in Zentsuji, western Japan

The city of Zentsuji in western Japan has started this year's shipments of ornamental square watermelons on Monday, with each fruit priced at about 10,000 yen ($70). A total…

Food imports to Kyrgyzstan increased by 3% over the week

Last week, from June 16 to June 22, 2023, the import of quarantine products to Kyrgyzstan amounted to 17,719 tons, which is 3% higher than the week earlier. This information…

Watermelon season in Calabria in the starting blocks

"The year 2023 is definitely a special one for watermelons. The weather has been crucial. First, there was a mild winter, then there was rain in February that somewhat complicated the planting of seedlings. In addition, there were hailstorms in the Calabrian province of Crotone that made it difficult to…

"The melon and watermelon shortage will continue during the first three weeks of July"

The situation of the Spanish melon and watermelon season has changed drastically from May to June and July, going from a clear oversupply in the markets and the collapse of prices to a shortage and a significant rise in prices. "The melon and watermelon campaign kicked off in Almeria with higher temperatures…

A look at the summer melon season

Supplies of melons are coming along steadily from various parts of North America. Honeydew and cantaloupe: These melons are shipping out of California mostly with additional supplies from Arizona but also Mexico. “The quality and the flavor have been right on the money,” says Stefanie Katzman, executive…

"Zagora started its watermelon campaign too early this year"

The Moroccan watermelon season is halfway through, with harvest volumes from southern Morocco now sold out, and pending harvests from the west and north of the country. Mehdi Benchekroun, CEO of DMB & Co, reviews the first half of the season. "Starting April, watermelons from southern Morocco came onto…