After the unstable weather in early September, high pressure brought more summery weather back to the Italian peninsula.
As of 12th September 2019 and for the whole weekend, temperatures will exceed 30°C reaching 36°C in some areas of Sicily and Sardinia. This weather favors the consumption of summer fruits like watermelons and melons, if still available, before the fall weather sets in.
"We commercialized 95% of the production but sales are still good. During the warmest part of the day, Sardinia still reaches 32°C, which is excellent for the consumption of melons and watermelons. This campaign has been rather interesting with a slight drop in sales towards the end of August due to the bad weather," reports Salvatore Lotta, sales manager for PO Agricola Campidanese.
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"After the delayed transplants and cold weather in mid-May, the hot weather from June onward drove consumption and demand up. Of course the volumes we sell now cannot be compared to early August, but they are considerable nonetheless if we consider the season."
"This final heatwave will enable us to sell the last batches. The quality of the Gavina and Eleonora varieties remains extraordinary and demand is satisfactory. Although a few regions have already stopped selling melons and watermelons (Veneto, Lombardy, Trentino), they are still available in Lazio, Liguria, Tuscany and Sardinia in particular."