There is stability in the acreage in Dakhla, with a peak at the end of March. A continuing decline in acreage can be seen in Agadir and Kenitra. In Marrakech there is also a decline in acreage, but an increase in greenhouses and developments in production planning.
Due to cold climatic conditions crops grew slowly, resulting in a delay of about one week.
Summary
Dakhla : greenhouse crops, Green Charentais, harvest started at the end of February to mid-April peaking at the end of March, there was some rain before harvest.
Agadir : greenhouse crops, Green Charentais, harvest ongoing in April which is slightly late.
Marrakech : greenhouse crops, Green Charentais, harvest ongoing start of April, also slightly slightly delayed, beautiful crops, good calibre.
tunnel crops, Green Charentais, harvest expected to start 25th April and peak between 5th-10th May, this is slightly delayed, calibres will be small to medium depending on plots.
There are still some Yellow Charentais but cycle is shorter by about 1 week.
Kenitra : Yellow Charentais, no delay.
MEDFEL – 21st April 2015
Spanish Melon Outlook 2015
Green Charentais acreage is stable in Almeria, but there has been an increase in acreage for Yellow Charentais in the Murcia region.
Very early planting for harvests at the start of May, means risk of small calibre, this is to compete with the Green Charentais from Morocco.
Increase in volumes as of the 25th May, to be specified depending on the weather in May, and until the end of July.
The crop in good and fruit set ongoing despite an unfavourable climate over the last 2-3 weeks.
Summary
Almeria: greenhouses, mainly Green Charentais, acreage is stable.
Murcia: Yellow Charentais under tunnels and tarpaulins have an increased acreage, with more early crops. Harvest will start at the beginning of May.
On the whole the crop is good and fruit setting has been ongoing since the end of last week. In this area there is also 650 ha of Green Charentais. Some in greenhouses with volumes increasing.
French Melon Outlook 2015
Charentais Melon Acreage in South East France
There is stability of acreage under large shelters and under tunnels and a slight increase in acreage under tarpaulin, but there is less early planting under large shelters and tunnels.
Fruit is currently setting for early crops under large shelters, “normal” precocity so far, which will be confirmed depending on the weather in May.
Charentais Melon Acreage in South West France
Acreage is stable and there is an increase in early variety time scale, which is harming field crops from the late season. There has been no delay in planting so far.
Charentais Melon Acreage in Centre-West France
There is stability in the total acreage, the use of tarpaulin coverage depends on climate conditions at the start of May.
There was a difficult harvesting for the first plantations between the 15th-30th March in Charente Maritime and Vendée, but the spring weather has been back since the 15th April.
Summary
Stability in acreage in all production basins, with differences between operators.
- Quite a cold climate at the end of March-beginning of April, but so far a “normal” year in terms of precocity.
- South East : less early crops under shelters and tunnels, more seasonal crops, fruit setting ongoing under large shelters.
- South West : more early crops and less late season crops, plantation is ongoing.
- Centre-West : recovery a little difficult for earlier March plantations, plantation is ongoing.
- French melons from heated shelters will be on the market at the end of April. Large shelter melons as of the 20th May, and start of June for melons from tunnels in the South East.
Source: MedFel 2015