"Demand for watermelons has been increasing since temperatures have risen. Prices are rather high at around €0.40-0.50/kg compared to the €0.18-0.19/kg of last year," reports Vincenzo Colombrino, president of Magna Grecia Soc. Coop. (O.P. Agorà), a company located in Metaponto (Matera) cultivating around 300 hectares between Basilicata and Puglia.
"Our campaign started around 10 days ago, but commercialization is at least one month late due to the bad weather of the past few months. This means late cultivars will also be delayed, so supplies will last until late September. We commercialize the Caravan, Melania and Nikas varieties. The latter is destined to the foreign markets and Germany in particular."
"The quality of Italian watermelons is unquestionable, with Metaponto and Lecce being ideal areas to grow high-quality fruits due to their excellent soil and weather conditions. Watermelon exporting countries are, in order of date, Turkey, Morocco, Greece and Italy. Although the Italian high-quality remains a guarantee for various markets, Spain is a competitor when it comes to price."
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"We currently commercialize between 100 and 150 tons a day. Germany is our main importer. Although orders remain limited, the retail chain is our main channel - we supply leading brands such as Conad, Coop, MD and other domestic chains."
"Markets choose us not only for our high-quality, but also thanks to our careful brushing and grading activities. For example, Nikas fruits are divided into different grades: (3-8 kg) (8-10 kg) (10-12 kg). They seem to be much appreciated by German consumers and, in fact, we are expecting sales to increase by 20% in Germany alone this year."
Contacts:
Magna Grecia Soc. Coop.
Viale padre Mario Pagano, 15
75012 Bernalda (MT)
Tel.: (+39) 335/8310346 – 335/5824384
Email: magnagreciasoccoop@gmail.com