July kicks off with the celebration of the Melon & Watermelon Innovation Days. This is an event where the main Spanish and international seed houses with experimentation centers and farms in the Region of Murcia open their doors to professionals in the agricultural sector to show them their latest developments in melon and watermelon varieties. Seminis, Enza Zaden, Nunhems, Rijk Zwaan, Semillas Fitó, and Syngenta, among other companies, will participate in the event.
Proexport highlighted that this initiative places the Region at the global epicenter of the agronomic and genetic innovation of melon and watermelon; the summer fruits par excellence.
The Region of Murcia is the country's leading melon exporter, accounting for 50% of the total exporter, and the second-biggest exporter of watermelon after Andalusia, with 20% of the total. In 2022, Murcia exported 169,019 tons of melon worth 143 million euro. The region exported 129,861 tons of watermelon worth 82.8 million euro.
In terms of production, in 2022 the Region of Murcia devoted 4,609 hectares to growing melon, accounting for 28.4% of the national total, only behind Castilla-La Mancha; and 2,788 hectares to watermelon, which accounts for 12.9% of the national total, only behind Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia. That year, the Region of Murcia produced 181,883 tons of watermelon (15.63%) and 171,744 tons of melon (32.8%).
Inclement weather affected the melon campaign
Once again, the weather has played a key role in production. The markets have gone from being oversupplied and having collapsed prices at source in May to having a shortage of production and experiencing a significant increase in prices, to compensate for production losses, in June and July.
“The weather changed in May and we were impacted by numerous intermittent storms for three weeks in a row, just when production was about to be collected in the Region of Murcia and eastern Almeria,” stated Jose Canovas, the president of Proexport's Melon and Watermelon Sectorial.
These phenomena were followed by hailstorms that, together with the torrential rains that affected the region, destroyed many crops and negatively affected Murcia's production.
The most cultivated varieties in the region
Murcian producers mainly opt for seedless watermelon varieties, both for export and for the national market, followed by Piel de Sapo melon for the national market. These varieties are followed by the rest of the melons destined for export, which include the Galia melon, yellow melon, cantaloupe, Charentais, and other specialties.
“Melon consumption in Europe remains static, while watermelon consumption has increased in recent years,” José Cánovas added.
For more information:
Proexport
www.proexport.es