These are busy hours, with dozens of estimates sent every day to European buyers. Most of the current shipments are trials to compare our product with those of other suppliers. There is a lot of skepticism among operators regarding watermelons this year. However, sales have been positive so far," says Gianni Martucci of Martucci Srl regarding the watermelon campaign in Nardò, Lecce, in the Italian region of Apulia.
© Martucci SrlPrices are higher this season than last year, with increases of up to 40%. This is not an isolated case for watermelons, but rather a common trend for many summer fruits, such as cherries and stone fruits, which are particularly expensive this year. Even though production in the Nardò area started about a week late, the local product is known for being sweet and crisp. The superior quality of Nardò products has prompted many traders who previously sourced from regions like Lazio and Campania to focus their purchases on Nardò. This shift is driven by the perception that products elsewhere are of lower quality," explains the Apulian manager.
The operator points out that the extra cost is justified by the higher quality. Martucci explains that "This leads to conflict with customers who, despite recognizing the higher quality of local products, express dissatisfaction with the prices, claiming that they pay up to €0.20/kg less elsewhere." However, the watermelon market also faces strong competition from imported watermelons. There have been complaints about truckloads of watermelons from Albania and Greece."
Martucci's watermelons are exported to markets in Germany, France, and Poland. Currently, they sell nearly one truckload per day. This pace indicates that the campaign is in its early stages because the harvest has not yet reached its peak.
© Martucci Srl
The operator describes the daily challenges using the metaphor of resilience. "The outlook for the immediate future is positive. Many customers complain about high prices, yet still request supply quotes. However, it is too early to make long-term predictions because the campaign just started about a week ago."
For more information:
Martucci Srl
Via Chiatona
74016 Massafra (TA) - Italy
+39 338 2620262
[email protected]
martucci.info
