Senegalese melons and watermelons are now hitting Spanish shelves as winter fades and milder, spring-like temperatures set in.
"As already planned, this week we'll receive the first watermelons from Senegal. Their quality is optimal; something we already checked on-site when the harvest started. Next week, we will also start with the first Senegalese Piel de Sapo melons," says Cele Buendía, of Melones El Abuelo.
The company produces and sells around 60,000 tons of melon all year round, both in various growing areas in Spain and in Brazil and Senegal during the off-season.
"Although there are companies that start selling melons and watermelons from Senegal a little earlier, we try not to start before February 20," says Buendía. "We are melon specialists, so we only sell watermelons from Senegal, which we finish around April 10. We produce around 1,500 tons of these."
"Melon and, to a lesser extent, watermelon, have been recording more significant consumption levels during the winter months," says Cele Buendía. "However, temperatures will now start to become milder, leaving the harsh winter behind. Therefore, consumption of these fruits peaks from March to October."
Unlike other players in the sector, Melones el Abuelo leaves a one-week gap between the Senegalese season and the Spanish campaign. "We don't like the Senegalese and Spanish seasons overlapping, so we choose to stop for a few days so that there won't be comparisons in terms of quality or sales, as they are different products. Once we start with Almeria melons in May, we won't stop until October in Castile-La Mancha. In between, we'll also handle fruit from Murcia."
For more information:
Cele Buendía
Melones El Abuelo
Paraje los Ruices, 115 Los Martínez del Puerto
30156 Murcia, Spain
Tel.: +34 968 38 33 39
cele@meloneselabuelo.com
meloneselabuelo.com