The Spanish melon season is currently making the transition from Almeria to Murcia. "We will receive the last melons from Almeria next week and then it will really be over this week. However, Murcia has suffered from the rain, so the season has not yet started. We are getting some supply, but not full trucks," Pieter de Ruiter of 4Fruit Company observes.
"Now it is only good for pricing if the supply starts slowly. The Galia melons from Murcia are traditionally a lot better than Almeria and can easily yield one euro per box. The Canataloupe melons from Murcia also have a slightly higher brix than those from Almeria. The taste difference for the Piel de Sapo and yellow melons is not that big, although you can see that the yellow melons from Almeria in particular are now becoming worn out," says the importer.
He says the price level of the melons is quite good. "Yellow melons are sold for 60/70 cents per kilo. The Piel de Sapo, Galia and Cantaloupe is just below the euro. Given the good weather forecast for this week, I expected a little more demand. We had slightly higher prices the other day and I find the enthusiasm a bit disappointing, but I am hopeful that this will change in the coming days.
According to Pieter there will certainly be damage as a result of rain and hail storms, but he does nuance the image immediately. "Every importer is sent tear-jerker videos, but don't forget that Spain is eight times the size of the Netherlands. The melon area is also quite extensive. If there is a hailstorm in the kaki region between Valencia and Alicante, there are proportionally more growers in trouble. "
"Furthermore, we have had a really good start to the Spanish stone fruit season so far, with regard to peaches, nectarines and paraguayos. Only now there is more pressure on the prices. The Spanish apricots are still good in price. There is now a bit more competition from France, but they are also one euro per kilo more expensive."
For more information:
Pieter de Ruiter
4 Fruit Company
Handelsweg 30
2988 DB Ridderkerk
Tel. 0031 (0) 180 641902
pr@4fc.nl
www.4fruitcompany.nl