"The watermelon campaign at Cooperativa Agrieuropa started in early May with the oblong varieties. Due to the unfavorable weather, production dropped by 50% and consumption was slow to start with. Now that we are in week 25, quotations reached €0.45/kg, approximately 40% than the average price in 2018," reports Alberto Nocera, president of soc. coop. Agrieuropa in Terracina (LT).
"We produce the typical striped oblong watermelons suitable to be grown in our area. Grades range between 9 and 12 kg. In 2018, we also introduced the round-oval type with grades between 6 and 10 kg to meet client demand. We handle around 450 tons on average every day."
"This year, the areas destined to watermelon production have increased by 50% compared to 2018. We own 550 hectares - 220 are protected crops where we transplanted between late February and May and then there are 330 hectares of open fields transplanted between mid-March and mid-June. This way, we can supply our clients throughout the season."
"75% of our production is sent to foreign retailers in Germany, Austria, France and Eastern European countries, as watermelon consumption has noticeably increased over the past few years."
"The bad weather affected the blossoming, setting and growing phases, having an effect on grades. What is more, transplants had to be delayed. We are hoping this will not lead to overproduction and saturated markets resulting in a drop in quotations."
Contacts:
Agrieuropa Soc. Coop. Agr.
S.S. 148 Pontina Km 97,700
04019 Terracina (LT) Italy
Tel: +39 0773 756158
Fax: +39 0773 756408
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.agrieuropa.it