On Tuesday 11 May, medFEL held a webinar* presenting estimates for melon plantings in Morocco, France and Spain. In summary, the melon area in Morocco remains stable, there is a slight decrease in the melon area in Spain and an increase in the southeastern part of France.
Morocco
Stability of the areas in Kenitra for the yellow Charentais with 120 ha and in Agadir for the green Charentais with 14 ha. A slight decrease of the acreage for Dakhla by -20 hectares, i.e. a total of 200 hectares. The areas in Marrakech have been expanded by 25 hectares, i.e. a total of 1025 hectares (of which 46% glass melons and 90% green Charentais).
The plantings of Moroccan origin continue and will continue throughout May, but in smaller quantities than in March and April, as there are only 300 hectares of open field left. It is worth noting that the yields in the preseason were lower than expected, which explains why there was no production for many weeks.
Spain
The acreage for Almeria has remained stable with 300 hectares of green Charentais grown in greenhouses. A slight decrease for Seville, mainly for late varieties, with 50 hectares less, i.e. a total of 450 hectares.
A decrease of 200 hectares for Murcia / Alicante, as a result of the 2020 season, mainly for late plantings to avoid the overlap of the origin Spain / France, and thus a total of 3,900 hectares. Notable are the degraded plantings and the delay in planting the crops due to the rainy and cold weather in April. The earliest crops will therefore gradually start at the beginning of May, but production on the following plots will be heterogeneous and staggered until the end of May. (The data needs specified based on the weather conditions in May).
France
Generally favorable weather conditions for planting, with some plots suffering from the cold snap and frost spells for the early varieties, which provided little cover as planting was underway but had little immediate impact and thus no impact on the first harvests. The forecasts of the quantities will depend on the weather and the conditions of the fruiting of the crops. The French melon from protected warm cultivation will be on the market in mid-May, from unheated cultivation at the end of May and the harvest of crops under tunnels is planned for the beginning of June.
Forecasts for the Southeast point to an increase of 250 hectares in 2021, mainly in the Camargue, i.e. 5,650 hectares, with an increase in the number of greenhouses. Stable areas for the Center-West area with 3,500 hectares of which 10 hectares are greenhouses. The southwest is also stable with 2,400 hectares, of which 30 hectares are greenhouses. The total French melon area is 11,650 hectares.
Data for France is likely to change once planting is complete.
About AIM
Founded in 2009, the AIM brings together nearly 300 growers, producer-shippers and shippers in the sector. Its mission is to unite, represent, inform and support the players before, during and after the season in the following areas: commercial, technical, communication and promotion. By 2020, AIM operators will have marketed almost 80% of the melon harvested from France.
*During the second edition of medFEL Tuesdays on May 11, 2021 plant forecasts for Charentais melon from Morocco, Spain and France were announced. A survey by the Association Interprofessionnelle Melon (AIM) among the operators of the sector, the seed growers and the technicians of each growing area. A webinar led by Olivier Masbou, journalist, Socopag press agency, with Myriam Martineau, president of the AIM, Marion Mispouillé, coordinator of the AIM and Jérôme Jausseran, communications manager of the AIM.
Click here to watch the rerun of the melon plant prediction webinar.
The European peach and nectarine forecasts will be announced on May 25 at the third and final meeting of medFEL Tuesdays.