The general secretary of the Spanish farmers organization ASAJA Murcia, Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca, expressed positive remarks about the current melon and watermelon campaign in the region. However the climate conditions have affected the crop volumes.
In sharp contrast to the past seasons, this year the melon and watermelon campaign proved to be highly valuable, thanks to good prices reached at the time of sale. The higher temperatures registered in these days are also favouring an increase in demand.
According to Mr. Caravaca, "the excellent quality has been achieved thanks to the farmers' concern to harvest only when the product is perfectly ripe." The all industry is therefore particularly optimistic this year, hoping that they will be able to cover the production costs even considering that the trade season will continue until next July.
The melon cultivation is key to the agricultural sector of the Region of Murcia. Proof of this is that the melon-growing area in Murcia is about 7,000 ha. The main variety is the Piel de Sapo melon, whose area accounts for 46%of regional total, followed by Galia, Charentais, Cantaloupe and Yellow melon. The total regional production amounts 210,000 tons, representing 20% of the domestic output, just after Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia.
In Italy, melon producers are now optimistic for June after that May was really disastrous in terms of prices. Mr. Bruno Francescon, head of the homonymous PO located in Rodigo (Mantua, northern Italy) explained to CorriereOrtofrutticolo.it: "Last month we had very low prices (even below 1 euro per kilo in retail chains) and far below production costs. Fortunately, the trend seems very good for June. The poor fruit set (-30%) will probably get the quotes to increase as much as 30%. From the actual 1.20 euro prices could reach as much as 1.80 euros per kilogram. In July I expect the market to return to stable, while it is still too early to make predictions for August", he concluded.
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