According to David Baños, Agrupaejido marketing manager, "the melon and watermelon productions are unusually delayed this year due to spring rains and strong winds, and yields right now are just at around 50% of their potential." However, he states, "this is also resulting in a better start in terms of prices."
Agrupaejido, which has over 2,000 growers, distributes vegetables all year round. In the picture, Galia melons are being sorted for export.
While the fruit and vegetable marketer will keep the melon production stable compared to last year's figures, watermelons will register a considerable growth; a trend which affects the sector as a whole.
All goods are shipped to the market on the same day they arrive to the facilities.
"With melons it is still hard for us to grow in Almeria, as the Piel de Sapo campaign overlaps with Senegal and the Galia and Cantaloupe seasons with Morocco," he explains. With watermelons it is another kettle of fish thanks to the advances made in terms of quality, despite the various competing producers at the start of the season. We have achieved this distinction by creating SandiSTAR, a gourmet black seedless watermelon," he points out.
Packing of SandiSTAR watermelons at Agrupaejido's warehouse.
Of the 10 million kilos of watermelons expected to be marketed, 6 billion will be SandiSTAR. Thanks to the success of this brand, which is now in its third season, Agrupaejido will manage to extend its marketing throughout Spain's entire production cycle, from April to September. "To achieve this, it has been necessary to plan production in different growing areas to cover more weeks and obtain the necessary volumes," explains David Baños.
SandiSTAR plantation with Crimson seedless watermelons as pollinators. Pepe Alférez, SandiSTAR field technician in charge, explains that between 85 and 90 days elapse from planting to harvest.
"SandiSTAR stands out for its intense flavour, crunchy texture, and especially its sweetness, since we don't harvest it until it reaches 12 Brix degrees," he points out.
This year, the "watermelon of the stars", marketed both in Spain and in Central Europe, will be the focus of a major promotional campaign with presentations, tastings, merchandising and even a recipe book.
Furthermore, Agrupaejido markets other black and striped watermelon varieties, with and without seeds, as well as mini-watermelons, for which, along with the Galia, there is also an organic range marketed under the brand AIISUN. "Demand for seedless watermelons is on the rise, as is that of mini-watermelons, thanks to the improvement in flavour achieved in recent years."
As regards melons, David Baños assures that the most popular variety is the Piel de Sapo, which accounts for 40% of all melon sales. Second is the Galia, with around 27%, followed by the Yellow, White and Cantaloupe, which are marketed under the Pandal, Leal and Almery brands in the domestic and international markets, with destinations such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Portugal, Austria and the UK.
For more information:
David Baños
Agrupaejido S.A.
Ctra. de Las Norias,5. La Mojonera.
Almería. Spain
T: +34 950 33 99 00
M: +34 669 823 750
davidb@agrupaejido.com
www.agrupaejido.com