The sunny weather from the past few days was much needed for the sales of summer fruit. “We really needed the sun, but the sales of watermelons are going well. And, luckily, demand is not falling considering the less than ideal weather forecast for the coming weekend. We have now started with the first watermelons and yellow lemons from Almería, and during the season we will switch to production from Murcia and Motril,” Erik-Jan Thur of Marni Fruit says.
“The melon market is currently good. Overseas supply of watermelons is at its end and the final yellow melons from Costa Rica are now arriving,” Thur explains. “Qualitatively, the Spanish watermelons have a good flavour and are good to eat. The first watermelons sometimes have a lighter colour, but that is not the case now. We never have Cantaloupe and Galia melons early in the season, but we have them once Murcia starts.”
“Prices for watermelons are currently between 90 cents and 1 Euro, and the smaller sizes are sold for 85 to 90 cents. The yellow melons, sizes 7 to 11, were around 9 Euro, but have now dropped to 8.50 Euro. All in all, those are fairly good prices, but the real volumes have yet to arrive,” Thur says. “The largest volumes are currently exported. Demand is mostly for large sizes, of which there are not many on the market. Especially customers of Moroccan and Turkish origin appreciate the melons for their flavour.”
Stonefruit
Marni Fruit has also started with the first Spanish apricots, and the first Spanish cherries will arrive at the importer today. “Volumes of these are still minimal. Spain currently has rain, and that does not improve the harvest or the quality. We have not yet started with peaches and nectarines. I am never one of the first for those,” Thur concludes.For more information:
Erik-Jan Thur
Marni Fruit BV
Gebroken Meeldijk 52
2991 VD Barendrecht
Tel: +31 (0)180 697 996
Fax: +31 (0)180 697 990
ej@marnifruit.nl
www.marnifruit.nl