"We are harvesting and shipping more than 50 tons of watermelons a day, and that still doesn't seem to be enough," said Giuseppe Petrocelli (pictured below), commercial director of Italy's Ortofrutta Metapontum, a company that grows watermelons and melons in the heart of Metapontino, in Bernalda (Matera, Italy), a few kilometres from the Ionian coast. 
More than 25 hectares are dedicated to the Melania watermelon and another 20 to yellow melons, which are available from the beginning of August. It is a lively season for watermelons. This is the opposite of last year, when many melons were discarded, due to the very low prices.
"Compared to the first ten days of July, demand is now up 40-45%, and prices are ranging between €0.22 and €0.25 per kilo. Despite a reduction in cultivation of about 15% due to the intense temperature variations during fruit setting, the quality is very good this year. The melons have an intense taste, high brix and compact flesh."
"The sizes of the earliest transplants under polytunnels range from 12 to 20 kg, while for the uncovered crops, which will be harvested from next week onwards, we will easily hit even 25 kg. These are the watermelons like in the olden days, both for weight and for taste."
Ortofrutta Metapontum's commercial channels are the national markets, from Turin to Reggio Calabria.
"The weather seems to be on our side. The very high temperatures of these days have indeed increased orders, and especially the weekend of 10 July, many customers have decided to increase their stocks. This is because during the final of the European Football Championship a lot of watermelon was consumed by the fans," concluded Giuseppe Petrocelli.
For more information:
Ortofrutta Metapontum srl
Via Verdi, 36
75012 - Bernalda (MT)
(+39) 3391144564
[email protected]