"Spain: Inspections check melon's "great quality"

Last 26 of March, the Provincial Delegation of the Council for Agriculture and Fishing from Andalucia's local government started a campaign for inspections in the field to Spring's typical products like melon and watermelon. During the first month, inspections confirmed the "excellent quality of those fruits cultivated in the province", according to the regional administration. And every control determined that both fruits are in the quality required parameters for the European market.

Until now, the amount of spring fruit "wasn't that much", the Council has stated. Although, it's expected that, if weather conditions play along, in two weeks it will start the commercialisation of "an important amount of this product".

Estimations from the Agriculture Delegation for the present spring campaign, point to a raise, in area and amounts, of both products. So, in a second estimation by the regional administration, counting on the seeders, seeds houses and companies data facts, this year 3,470 hectares of melon were cultivated in the province, 5.68% more than in the previous campaign (3,539 hectares). The amount estimated is 136,140 tons, 7,000 more than in the 2011 harvest.

The 5,500 hectares estimated to be under watermelon cultivation in Almería by the Technical Services of the Council, show a raise superior to 11%, regarding the last agricultural year. Estimations regarding total amount are of 341,960 tons. The total production expected would be bigger than in the last three campaigns.

Prices
Agricultural organizations showed their unhappiness with prices of quotations for those spring products at the start of the campaign. Shortage of offer by Almería wasn't determining for the quotation, despite an adequate quality, as confirmed by the regional Administration. For Coag, causes of this behavior are "not clear" and brings up, as argument, the commercial strategies by big distribution chains. Competition from overseas products, and African products are putting a shadow over the province product.

Trying to raise the product's value, or at least that it doesn't go lower, agricultural collectivities and Administration ask for the product quality to be maintained.

Source: Ideal