Spain: Start of Senegalese Fashion watermelon campaign

The first Fashion watermelons from Senegal have already become available in Spain's main markets. The campaign has kicked off almost 15 days earlier than in 2017 and the production is expected to grow by between 2 and 3%.

There will be an increase in the volume expected for March and the first half of April. "We will have a continuous presence in the market from now until October. This will make it possible to consume Fashion watermelons for 8 months of the year, so the fruit won't necessarily be considered a summer product anymore. It can be enjoyed practically all year round, as shown by the rising demand from our consumers," said Joaquín Hidalgo, General Coordinator of Sandía Fashion.

All watermelon sizes will be available in the first batches, although conventional calibres will be the most common.

Consumers will be able to purchase the product in the main markets this week, allowing them to enjoy the sweetness of a Premium watermelon. "The great advantage of our product is that we can guarantee that consumers buying a Fashion Watermelon will enjoy a tasty fruit. They don't need to worry about choosing the right piece, because we have previously selected it for them," says Hidalgo.

The General Coordinator of Sandía Fashion has highlighted the meticulous planning work that is necessary in order to produce in Senegal. "Each season, we improve our planning to prevent overlap between the Senegalese production and that of Almeria's greenhouses, which is the next to hit the market."

Joaquín Hidalgo has also highlighted the increase of between 2 and 3% in the production of Fashion watermelons in the current campaign compared to 2017, with the total volume expected to reach 80 million kilos.