In 2023, Russia saw a 3.2% rise in watermelon and melon harvest, reaching 1.6 million tons, with the majority grown in the Orenburg and Astrakhan regions.
Most watermelons in the Russian market, around 80%, are domestically grown, with consumption being highly seasonal. The bulk of sales occur during the domestic harvest season when prices are lowest. Quality issues may arise with both imports and local produce.
Watermelons from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan arrive in early summer. Iranian watermelons are imported mainly in spring, at higher prices due to expensive transportation. Additionally, sizable out-of-season imports come from Brazil and Turkey. Watermelons are brought into the Far East and Eastern Siberia from China. Overall, Russia sources watermelons from over 20 countries.
Prices are expected to increase due to rising production and logistics costs, but predicting exact figures is challenging due to various factors, including seasonality, quality, and transportation.
Source: mskgazeta.ru