Cooler and wetter spring weather in many melon-growing countries has led to lower fruit ripening and a slower start to the season. The demand was slightly lower because the cold and rainy weather in Central and Northern Europe did not stimulate consumption. The bad weather during early spring together with a slight decrease in plantings caused lower early yields in Spain. Warmer weather during the rest of spring and early summer led to a significant increase in demand from local Spanish consumers that resulted in price rises.
In Italy, the prolonged drought caused Sicilian melons and watermelons to suffer. The mild winter brought the harvest forward by 15 days. The Netherlands has seen disappointing melon sales due to the bad weather throughout Spring and into early Summer. The situation is the same in Germany, where the wet weather has lead to low demand over the last few weeks. Hungary had an earlier start to their watermelon season, with exports expected to increase due to challenges in other big growing countries. The start of the melon season in France is very complicated, due to the bad weather. The early window of May and June were bad months with very little consumption and production problems still linked to bad weather, which caused a lot of product deviations.
Turkey is seeing increasing European, Scandinavian and UK demand for watermelons. They are also expanding their season up to November. The Moroccan watermelon season has begun with a significant reduction in acreage. Due to the consistent drought the country is experiencing, the authorities have imposed a production ban in some regions.
In North America, summer melon production is growing. Consistent supply is expected for the next 20 weeks. Planting inconsistencies earlier this year means supply is light and demand is strong and it looks as though watermelon supply may be tight, albeit reasonable, for the 4th of July holiday. By mid to late July, greater supply is expected. Brazil's recent heavy rain impacted volumes negatively. Brazil will have more or less the same volume and planted area of melons compared to last year in the coming season. As Chinese summer time temperature increases, more and more melons grown locally go to their markets. Local growers are encouraged to develop and test new varieties to reduce reliance on imports.
Spain: Bad weather causes lower volumes and higher prices
The Spanish melon and watermelon campaign started in late April in Almeria, where there volumes have been lower than usual due to the impact of the bad weather at the beginning of Spring. The good weather in Europe together with lower yields due to a slight reduction in the acreage and the impact of the climate during the setting phase, resulted in a significant increase in the demand for watermelons and prices rising to unusually high levels in late May. This year, the early watermelons from mid-April have done very well in the domestic market, as the product has faced no competition and its arrival was eagerly anticipated in the markets.
Now the watermelon harvest continues mainly in Murcia, with an acreage of 2,400 hectares this year, 4% more than last year. The last rains and hail storms have slightly impacted the watermelon production, mainly delaying its ripening.
As for melons, prices have been decent for the growers in Almeria. Yields were also lower than usual in Almeria and sizes were generally too large. There has been less competition from other origins, such as Morocco, where the drought has taken a significant toll on the acreage. Also, this year there was not much overlap with melons from overseas, as their campaigns finished earlier, especially in the case of the Galia and Cantaloupe, whose quality has also been lower than in other years.
The campaign continues in Murcia, where the acreage increased 2% this year, and where the season kicked off in the last week of May with lower volumes than expected until week 25. In the first two weeks in which Murcia was harvesting melons, the demand was slightly lower because the cold and rainy weather in Central and Northern Europe hasn't stimulated consumption. However, since the volumes were not that big, there has been a good balance between supply and demand. The recent storms have moderately affected the melon crops, causing some delay in the development of fruit. According to exporters in Murcia, there will be slightly less melon production in the coming weeks, but sufficient and of good quality to be able to fulfil their supplying programs as usual.
Italy: Drought causes Sicilian melons to suffer
Sicilian melons and watermelons are suffering from the prolonged drought. The mild winter brought the harvest forward by 15 days. There was a good trend for netted melons, a specialised crop, grown in covered structures. Average producer prices ranged from €1 to €1.50. Aphid pressure was significant at times, but overall was controlled, but not without production losses. A good commercial season is expected for the recently started yellow melons, given the lack of product due to the drought. Many plots have not been planted, so prices could be quite high. Mini watermelons and watermelons started with very good prices between the end of April and May, but were later held back by a drop in demand caused by bad weather in northern Italy and the rest of Europe.
The watermelon campaign in Calabria is about to begin. "In the next few days we should start with the mini watermelons. The classic ones will follow," says a grower.
A Sardinian operator reports: "Demand has increased in the last few days, thanks to the African heat. The watermelon campaign started at the end of April, about 10 days early, but orders were relatively low until the first ten days of June, except for weekend sales when purchases tended to increase slightly. The start was therefore subdued due to chilly and rainy weather in both Italy and Europe, as well as a larger fruit and vegetable basket than in the summer months of 2023".
A grower from the province of Latina, who exports abroad and sells in Italy, says: "The Dumara-type watermelon campaign started well, but then, from 25 May, the high temperatures brought the ripening of the product forward by a week. In Europe, the arrival of summer has been delayed, which has prevented demand from picking up. The production situation in Italy is not the best because there is little product and two weeks ago prices fell. Now we are trying to ask the buyers for a higher remuneration, i.e. an increase of a few cents. The situation with mini-watermelons is quite different: consumption does not seem to be taking off, there is no demand and prices are low. This campaign is not very linear, precisely because of the unstable climate, which causes moments of full production to alternate with moments of empty production.
Two major operators in northern Italy confirm that orders and prices were good until week 24, but have deteriorated since the beginning of week 25. Orders have slowed down despite the fact that the temperatures are summery and therefore inviting for melon consumption. Yields in the field are not high, but prices have fallen in the last week compared to the previous week. In the middle of week 25, the price range for good quality melons was between €1.40 and €1.80/kg.
Netherlands: Disappointing melon sales due to weather
"The melon sales this year can traditionally be measured by the thermometer, and it hasn't been easy," stated a Dutch importer. "Weather dictates both demand and prices, and this cold, wet, windy spring has led to a significantly disappointing melon market. With temperatures ranging from 15 to 18 degrees Celsius, melon consumption simply hasn't picked up."
"We ended the overseas season a few weeks ago. Spain started with relatively small volumes from Almería, which the market could barely absorb. Subsequently, volumes from Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Murcia entered the market, necessitating higher consumption," continued the importer.
"European retailers have several promotions planned, but due to the disappointing sales, they are also cautious about scheduling the next ones. At the same time, no other fruit is standing out. We are already halfway through June, and there's no fruit that is exceeding consumption expectations. Consequently, we are observing disappointing prices, both at the farm gate and in retail. Everyone makes certain forecasts, and if those aren't met, stocks flood the market with potential quality repercussions."
Germany: Wet weather leads to low demand
Due to the cold and wet weather conditions in Germany the demand for water melons was quite low over the last few weeks. The supply was dominated by Spain primarily, as well as Morocco and Italy. To avoid oversupply, many traders decided to lower their prices. Meanwhile the melon market in general was quite unsatisfying for the time of the year.
Hungary: Earlier start to season, exports increasing
The watermelon season started earlier in Hungary. Favourable weather conditions during spring has led to a good start for producers with small quantities currently available. This will increase substantially from July when the main volumes will be available across retailers and wholesalers in the country. Hungarian growers and exporters have seen good early demand from their neighbouring European countries who are looking to diversify their supply. This is because the Mediterranean growing countries have had weather challenges. The growing area has increased yet again with about 10,000 to 12,000 tons of melons and 140,000 to 160,000 tons of watermelons that are expected to be harvested this 2024 season in Hungary, with up to 50,000 tons of this volume to be exported.
France: Complicated and delayed start to melon season
The start of the melon season in France is very complicated, due to bad weather. May and June for the early window were bad months with very little consumption and production problems still linked to bad weather, which caused a lot of product deviations. The melon fields are suffering with lower production.
Delays of eight days are recorded in Provence and the supply today is less than the same period of last year. However, nothing is yet decided for the French season. If good weather sets in for a long time during summer, supply could intensify and consumption could finally increase significantly.
Turkey: Increasing European demand for watermelons
Turkish growers and exporters are seeing increasing demand for watermelons from customers across Europe, Scandinavia and the UK. They are asking for supply over a longer period than usual, up to November a grower and exporter notes. Demand in Germany is expected to be 25% higher due to the warmer weather and the European football championships taking place there. Turkey has expanded the production area, with a strong local market too.
Cooler weather during May has led to slower growth and higher prices of watermelons. A grower and exporter notes: "Despite these higher prices and competition from both Greece and Spain, demand remains strong at the moment."
Morocco: Little to no watermelons due to drought and restrictions
The Moroccan watermelon season has begun with a significant reduction in acreage. Due to the consistent drought the country is experiencing, the authorities have imposed a production ban in some regions, and acreage restrictions on watermelons in others. According to professional sources, acreage is down 60% on last season.
The season began in April with decent volumes and quality, and high prices compared with a normal year. Then, widespread quality problems impacted harvests. The aphid problem particularly affected watermelons, causing the already limited production to disappear from the local and export markets.
Harvests from the Gharb region are expected in the second half of June, and later in the summer, but professionals are still cautious about quality, and a wait-and-see attitude prevails.
North America: Summer melon production growing
Cantaloupe and Honeydew melon production in the Southern Desert areas of Imperial Valley, Yuma Valley, and Gila Valley hit peak production in the first week of June. Consistent supply is expected for the next 20 weeks. The supply transition from the southern desert to the San Joaquin Valley in California will take place around July 1st. Then, there's no gap or slowdown in production until mid-October given production and yields look strong.
Northern Mexico has almost finished its watermelon harvest. Arizona is shipping watermelons as is California, Texas, Florida and North Carolina. Other growing regions will start in the next few weeks.
Planting inconsistencies earlier this year means supply is light and demand is strong and it looks as though watermelon supply may be tight, albeit reasonable, for the 4th of July holiday. By mid to late July, greater supply is expected. Markets are good and the limited supply is keeping lower prices at bay. Pricing should likely hold through the holiday but come mid-July when that greater supply comes on, pricing pressure is expected.
Brazil: Recent heavy rain impacted volumes
The recent heavy rains have affected the harvest volumes of melons in Brazil. A large grower and exported said Brazil will have more or less the same volume and planted area of melons compared to last year. "We're seeing increasing European demand for our Brazilian watermelons." Despite the impact of the rain growers are relieved that the underground aquifers have been recharged, while the soil has been flushed clean and the natural vegetation has grown really well. "We therefore expect a very good quality season from Brazil in terms of productivity and quality. Our season will start again from about week 33 or 34."
China: Local melon supply increases with warmer weather
As the temperature the increases, more and more melons go to the markets in China. At the beginning of June, a melon conference was held in Suzhou City, Zhejiang province. Various people from melon-related industries joined the conference, and 208 new melon varieties were shown. People are encouraged to develop domestic breeding and reduce the import of overseas varieties.
In Duer Bo town, Zhejiang province, the first melon from a plastic greenhouse is ready to harvest. "We can have 4,000kg from 1mu greenhouse, the output is quite exciting this year. Meanwhile, the market demand is high, and the price is very attractive," the local farmer from Duer Bo town said.
In Zheqiao Town, Lin Xia City, melons are also ready to sell. A local grower said: "We grow No.946 melon and Jinta melon. Now Jinta melon is on the market, the price is around 15rmb/kg, and this melon has a very nice smell. Another variety No.946 is still in the growing period and will mature in around 20 days."
Next week's topic: Raspberries