The melon and watermelon market situations are currently particularly difficult. "Supplies are very limited. Spain has almost no melons, but there's hardly any demand here if you have some. But that will pick up at some point, and then you have to have them," says Jacob Aktalan of MG Fruit in the Netherlands.
"Prices are high, which is slowing demand down a bit. The weather is ideal for watermelon consumption. Retailers are selling some mini watermelons, but Turkish and Moroccan customers are more likely to choose the large Greek watermelons in bins. Watermelon consumption in the Netherlands remains relatively limited, though. People won't buy a watermelon for €1.50 p/kg at the supermarket which cannot fit in their refrigerator. That's why we largely depend on sales towards Germany, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom."
"The Spanish supply will stay limited for now. Almeria is ready, but Murcia has suffered from the rains, and it'll be a few weeks before La Mancha is truly well in production. Prices are between €1.20 and €1.40. It's basically the same story for Galia melons," Jacob explains.
"It's the tail end of the Murcia season, and there's limited availability from Morocco. Small sizes bring little money, but the large sizes sell for €10/€12. For Cantaloupe, it's even €12-€13. Only small yellow melons are available, and even though they have a fair amount of skin damage, they're also selling for big money."
"There have been noticeable melon shortages in the last two years' summers. Last year was extreme, so more plantings were expected, but most of that didn't happen because of heavy rainfall. The limited supply makes for high prices, but that also affects sales. Prices are fantastic, but getting some mood in the market is extremely difficult. We remain positive, of course. It's precisely that market impulsivity that makes this business so challenging," Jacob concludes.
For more information:
Jacob Aktalan
MG Fruit
90-E Selderijweg
2988 DG, Ridderkerk, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 180 745474
Mob: +31 (0) 612 676 257
Email:jacob@mgfruit.nl
Website: www.mgfruit.nl