Last week, they started harvesting melons at Euro Gijbels's farm in Spain. "They've been harvesting melons for a little while already in the south of Spain," says John Gijbels of Euro Gijbels, which is based in Belgium. "But, we're located in Catalonia, which is more north. That means we usually start somewhat later and go through for longer."
John Gijbels
"Cantaloupe and watermelon production only started last week. We're expecting the large volumes only by next weekend. Sales are lagging due to the cooler weather in Northern Europe. For watermelon sales, it must be nice and hot. This week, unfortunately, hasn't been hot enough."
"We started cultivating melons a few years ago. We then also had Galia and Piel de Sapo in the assortment. But, we noticed the demand for these melons lagging a little. So, we started focusing on Cantaloupe and watermelon. We might expand our range in the future. But, for now, we will keep focusing on these two kinds," says John.
Jolene's daughter is Euro Gijbels' fifth generation
"The melon growth season went well. We're satisfied with the fruits' sizes and flavor. This year, we tested a few new watermelon varieties. But, these grew to be somewhat larger. We usually have sizes of 4-5. These were size 2. That's a little big for our market," John concludes.
For more information:
John Gijbels
Euro Gijbels
Email: info@euro-gijbels.be
Website: www.eurogijbels.be