At the Medfel trade fair held in Perpignan, France on 22th April 2013, Catherine Taussig from the French APREL association presented the 2013 Charentais melon harvesting expectations for Morocco, Spain and France on the basis of data coming from a number or professional organisations, operators, seed companies, etc.
Morocco
This year, in the Agadir region, there is less area dedicated to melon crops, maybe because of the fact that in 2012 the production was not early.
In Marrakech and Kenitra there has been a significant reduction of area. There was no bad weather this year and crops are good, even though they are heterogeneous.
About 300 hectares are cultivated in Dakhla, as well as 400-500 greenhouse and tunnel hectares in Agadir-Taroudant, whereas in Marrakesh–Kenitra we are talking about 1,000-1,100 hectares in greenhouses and material/non-material mini-tunnels.
Summarising, March-April harvesting is coming to an end in Dakhla and in Marrakech greenhouse harvesting, which started on 25th March, is also ending.
Harvesting of fruit in mini-tunnels started around 20th-25th April, though the peak is expected between the end of April and 10th May. Harvesting of Charentais melons in open fields is also starting.
Finally, in Agadir, harvesting of greenhouse produce is in progress.
There is a significant decrease of cultivated surfaces and produce has heterogeneous yields and grades due to the professionalism of operators.
Spain
In Almeria, the best part of green Charentais is in greenhouses: 300-400 hectares will be ready between April and May and they will compete with produce from Morocco.
In Murcia, yellow Charentais are mainly cultivated, with a slight increase of area as they are looking for early produce. The weather was good for early produce in mini-tunnels in February, though less good in March.
At the moment, fruitlets are setting under tarpaulins.
If in Almeria there is a decrease of area cultivated with green Charentais, in Murcia there is a slight increase of early crops in mini-tunnels.
Finally, in Agadir, harvesting of greenhouse produce is in progress.
There is a significant decrease of cultivated surfaces and produce has heterogeneous yields and grades due to the professionalism of operators.
Spain
In Almeria, the best part of green Charentais is in greenhouses: 300-400 hectares will be ready between April and May and they will compete with produce from Morocco.
In Murcia, yellow Charentais are mainly cultivated, with a slight increase of area as they are looking for early produce. The weather was good for early produce in mini-tunnels in February, though less good in March.
At the moment, fruitlets are setting under tarpaulins.
If in Almeria there is a decrease of area cultivated with green Charentais, in Murcia there is a slight increase of early crops in mini-tunnels.
Harvesting should start around 10th-15th May for early varieties, and then they will continue in June and July according to the weather and to the setting during May.
France
In the South-East basin, areas are more or less the same - around 5,400 hectares of big tunnels (650 ha), mini material/non-material tunnels and tarpaulins (3,400 ha) and open fields (1,350 ha). A slight decrease of surfaces in Provence is compensated by an increase in Languedoc thanks to the diffusion of tarpaulin crops.
In the South-West area, approximately 3,800 hectares are dedicated to Charentais melons, 100 of which are under tunnels, 1,700 are under mini-tunnels and tarpaulins and 2,000 are in open fields. In general, there is a slight decrease of surfaces, creating a difference among structures.
In the Centre-West basin, the overall area destined to Charentais melons is of 5,200 hectares, 30 of which are under big tunnels, 2,100 under mini-tunnels and tarpaulins and 3,070 are in open fields. There has been a slight decrease of surfaces in this area too.
Concluding, in France there has been a decrease of area too, with a disparity of structures and bad weather during March and the first few days of April.
In South-Eastern France, harvesting will start around 10th May in heated tunnels, around 20th-25th May in non-heated tunnels and at the beginning of June in mini-tunnels, depending on May's weather.
In South/Centre-Eastern France, a very cold and humid weather in March and in the beginning of April led to late transplants and a difficult start for plants. In order to know more, we will have to wait and see how May will turn out to be.
Despite the slight delay, French Charentais melons will be available on the market staring around 10th May, harvesting in heated tunnels is expected to start around 20th-25th May. In the next few months, expectations on volumes will depend on the setting.