with the exception of watermelons
Melons are small, but sales run well
sizes 4/5 45-50 cents. The watermelons are of first class quality, but the supply is too great. In addition to Spain the watermelons come, from Italy, Greece and Albania and other places" a trader says.
"There are more than enough, but the Dutch hardly eat watermelon and the Turks and Moroccans are on holiday or celebrating Ramadan. The Dutch prefer a Galia, Cantaloupe or yellow melon and have also started to eat Piel de Sapo's more," the importer continues.
Sales of Galia's are going extremely well. "The Almeria season was not too good, also because of a lot of rain in north-west Europe. The change to the Murcia season
was without problems, but because of the flower setting the melons grew unequally on the plants with many small sizes as a result" the trader says. "Many producers in Murcia, which is traditionally a large supplier of Galia and Cantaloupe, had in their naivety made programs with supermarkets and when they had to supply, the sizes 4 and 5 were not available."
Up to today there are especially small melons arriving and there are hardly any
'fours' and 'fives' on the market. "But luckily those, because of the nice weather, are sold at a reasonable price. For Galia's 4-4.50 Euro is asked for the 'fours', 5-5.50 for the 5 and 6, 4 Euro for size 7 and 2.50 Euro for size 8. That is a lot of money. For Cantaloupe it's the same story with an asking price of up to 6.50 Euro for size 4 and 6-7 Euro for sizes 5 and 6."
The more and more popular Piel de Sapo melons mainly come from the central area Castilla-LA Mancha and are supplied in large volumes. With prices between 11 and 12.50 Euro good money is being paid. But everywhere the weather is good and also cherries, nectarines, raspberries, berries, blackberries and paraguayo's are plentifully on the market. In two weeks time prices may therefore be quite different."