The beautiful fall weather is boosting melon sales. "That just goes to show how weather-dependent melon consumption is. It's boosted sales throughout Europe," says Leon van den Hombergh of the Dutch company Frankort&Koning.
"The Southern European product was off the market quickly due to good demand, and those crops are now finished and sold. We're, thus, moving toward an empty market for the overseas melons, and with consumption being above the normal schedule due to the good weather, melons sell very easily even without promotions."
"Galia and Cantaloupe melons are priced at around €10, with yellow ones slightly cheaper, and watermelon going for about €1/kg. Those are excellent prices, but we don't have any guarantees for the winter. More normal temperatures are already expected for the time of year next week," Leon explains.
"I hope the situation doesn't attract new players wanting to profit from the good market, who'll start getting products from other areas, also boosted by the lower transport rates. We certainly shouldn't spoil our own business because it's not a free-for-all for the foreseeable future. The market being flooded would be most unwelcome now."
Recent new cultivation areas and farm acquisitions in Brazil mean Frankort&Koning's melon supplier in that country - Agricola Famosa - can deliver the entire melon range year-round. "More and more Central and South American producers are increasingly betting on April through May, instead of the winter months, in hopes of a good, early spring. The shorter transit times and improved varieties - both visually and flavor-wise - are increasing quality and thus boosting consumption," Leon concludes.
For more information:
Leon van den Hombergh
Frankort & Koning
Tel: +31 (0) 773 897 202
Tel: +31 (0) 651 238 770
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.frankort.nl
