Summertime classically also means melon time, at least as long as the weather cooperates. Francesco Calabrese, Managing Director of Euro-Fruit GmbH, was only able to start selling his watermelons in mid-June, but the season will also extend accordingly until the beginning of September. "Our main item in the summer season is definitely the watermelon. From mid-June to early September, we have about 1,300 tons available for delivery to customers in Germany, Slovakia and Austria. We offer both the Melania variety from the Puglia region and, since the end of June, the Dumara variety from the Campania region, both from our own production. The qualities are excellent this year."
The weather caprices of the last weeks and months were also felt in the named regions, but this affected mainly grape harvest. "In May, it was still hailing, which affected the grapes very badly. However, we got off lightly. Although we could not start marketing until later, but the season promises to be good and long." In the meantime, there was a sharp drop in demand due to the rain for ten to 14 days at the end of July and beginning of August. "Demand for watermelons is now very weather-dependent. But in the last few weeks, sales have rebounded strongly."
Price levels have remained steady, he said. "In June/July, prices were still quite high, whereas they have returned to a normal level," he said. "Watermelons are marketed 80 percent in large wooden boxes and 20 percent in cardboard boxes, each holding 200 kg. The carton boxes are especially popular with food retailers." Calabrese sees watermelons from Greece as the main competitor for Italian produce. "Greece was able to offer their product earlier and was also below the Italian product in price this year."
For Euro-Fruit GmbH, the first half of the year went well, he said. "You can tell that the pandemic is no longer an issue. We can be very satisfied overall."
Further Information:
Franceso Amato Calabrese
Euro-Fruit GmbH
Schäftlarnstraße 10
81371 München
Halle 4/Stand 81
Telefon: +49 089 71699852
E-Mail-Adresse: Euro-fruit@web.de
Webseite: http://eurofruitgmbh.com