Costa Rica continues to lose competitiveness as a producer of melons due to falling prices and rising production costs. Planting areas of melon and watermelon are decreasing every year, a situation that concerns producers who have survived the global crisis, climate change and the increase in costs (mainly for basic services, labour, agricultural inputs and social security).
This year's January to April season wasn't good for the Costa Rican company Melones de la Peninsula due to pest and disease problems, mainly viruses transmitted by whiteflies and aphids, which affected performance. There was a 30% drop because fruit selection had to be performed more rigorously in order to assure quality for the customers.
This company exports about 80% of their Yellow melons and Quetzali watermelons to Europe, mainly to large distributors in England, and in smaller volumes to Denmark, Holland, Russia, Spain and Germany, the remaining 20% of their production is of white melon that is sold to USA. The acreage has declined as much as 40% in the last three years and this year will amount to 350 hectares, 250 of melon and 100 of watermelon depending on negotiations with buyers / customers. All farms are Global GAP and Tesco Nurture certified.
According to engineer Fernando Aju, president of Melones de la Peninsula, "right now the market is complicated, prices have remained the same or fallen, competition from countries like Brazil, Guatemala and Honduras with lower production and logistics costs put the melon and watermelon production in Costa Rica at risk. We are considering reducing acreage. The decision will depend on the prices that are negotiated with customers in September."
The company has spent several years researching technologies to diversify crops, especially products aimed at ethnic market niches that have a better return and where price fluctuations are less risky. We are also analyzing the potential of exporting products to China in the near future, concluded Mr. Aju.
For more information:
Melones de la Península, S.A.
Costa Rica
Fernando Ajú
Gerente General
Te: + (506) 26858500
+506 87019969 cell
skype: fernandoaju1
[email protected]
http://melopen.com/
