"While the watermelon market looked bleak up until a few weeks ago, with field prices not exceeding €0.15/kg, it now seems quantities are not even enough. Demand has increased by over 60% since the beginning of August and quotations have risen to reach the current €0.45-0.50/kg," reports Giuseppe Petroncelli, a producer from Metaponto (Matera) with 50 hectares of Melania watermelons.
 Watermelon bins. |
 Watermelon weighing over 21kg. |
"We are relieved. The campaign should end in two weeks' time but only because, considering the low yields of the late cultivars, we staggered availability to try and please all our clients, otherwise we would have already finished. We ship between 80 and 90 tons of watermelons to the Italian markets every day."
"The most popular grades are between 11 and 18-20 kg. The produce is excellent, with a high sugar level. This is definitely a peculiar year, we have had to let various tons go to waste as no one was requiring them, now all they do is ask for them as if summer had just started."
Contacts:
Ortofrutta Metapontum srl
Via Verdi, 36
75012 - Bernalda (MT)
Tel.: (+39) 3391144564