“Early start to Spanish watermelon season”

Overseas melons are gradually taking the place of Spanish product on the melon market. “Spain is already sending a considerable volume of watermelons from Almeria, and that’s earlier than in previous years,” says Jacob Aktalan from MG Fruit. “From overseas, Costa Rica and the final Panamanian watermelons are still on the market.”

“The price of watermelons for large sizes is currently about 60 cent per kilograms, and the smaller sizes are around 50 cent. Galias are about five euro. Yellow melons are still mostly coming from overseas, and that price has slumped to about 7.50. Cantaloupe melons are still coming from Costa Rica in considerable volumes, resulting in prices around 5 euro,” Jacob sums up.

According to the importer, sales of especially small sizes of watermelons are currently under pressure. “The sizes 4 and 5 are limitedly available, and that’s why Quetzali and seedless melons are also doing very well. The supply of truly great quality Spanish watermelons will properly start from the third week of May. Galia and Cantaloupe melons from Almeria are traditionally not very popular. An alternative for these are the Moroccan, which are very flavourful, but for these, GlobalGAP certification is often not a certainty.”

The trend is that watermelons are becoming increasingly smaller. “This development started in Scandinavia, and has also started in other countries. Dutch retail also increasingly asks for miniature watermelons, and the seedless ones in particular,” Jacob says. “However, it should be noted that the majority of watermelons goes to cutting plants and export markets, and size is much less important to them.”