There is currently a dichotomy on the melon market. "Watermelons and Galias are short but sales for Cantaloupe and yellow melons are a bit more difficult," says Jacob Aktalan of MG Fruit from Barendrecht.
He expects the situation to continue for a while. "For the time being I don't feel like many more melons are coming. Costa Rica does not currently have enough volume to meet the demand and the Panamanian season is not yet ready. I am therefore curious what the coming month will bring."
"Prices for seedless watermelons are therefore at a level between 1.20-1.30 euros and a little less for the Quetzali. Galia melons are being sold for between 9 and 10 euros. The price of Cantaloupe melons is quite a bit lower with market prices between 5 and 6 euros", Jacob sums up.
"The yellow melons are going for 8-8.50 euros while they should actually pay a dozen. This is because Brazil continues to send product and the first containers from Costa Rica had some quality problems, so that is a difficult story," according to the importer.
"I hope the market for watermelons and Galias will stay this way for a while, but you never know of course. It is always a short but intense season, because at the end of March / beginning of April the first Moroccan watermelons are already en route, followed by Spain where we as MG fruit will play an important role in guaranteeing continuity and quality all year round, just as our customers are used to. "
In addition, the delays in recent weeks, partly due to the various storms, are also affecting trade. We also see that with the pineapples from Costa Rica. That does not contribute to a stable position in the market, as everyone gets a whole boom at the same time and then we are all left with nothing. "
"The positive thing is that the demand is fairly broad. You do see, for example, that England has a lot of demand for specifically size 6 watermelons, which there are few of and the demand for mini seedless watermelons continues unabated," concludes the trader.
For more information:
Jacob Aktalan
MG Fruit 
Trade center ZHZ 49-60
2991 LD Barendrecht
Tel: 0031 (0) 180-745470
jacob@mgfruit.nl
www.mgfruit.nl