A total of 2,860 hectares will be devoted to melons and over 8,200 to watermelons in Almeria this campaign. As regards the production, it is provisionally expected to reach 535,910 tonnes of watermelons (a 1.95% increase) and 122,086 tonnes of melons (up 6.30%).
In recent years, watermelons have recorded a significant recovery in both the domestic and international markets. This has been the result of awareness campaigns over the years and the introduction of varieties of excellent quality, such as the Fashion, and of brands like Bouquet.
The case has been slightly different for melons, not only because of the commercial varieties obtained in recent years (long life varieties), but also to Almeria’s commitment to market varieties that allow for the implementation of business strategies similar to those in place for watermelons.
The delegate of Agriculture stressed the importance of the campaign ‘No green harvesting’ “to protect and maintain the quality level of watermelon and melon crops.” He also considers it essential to raise the awareness of seed production houses about the importance of research aimed at improving the quality of these horticultural products.
COAG Almería has also recently launched a publicity campaign to convince growers and consumers about the need to report both producers harvesting green melons and watermelons and those marketing them. “It is important for our horticultural products to arrive in optimum condition to the supermarket shelves, as the first orders and their quality will mark the rest of the campaign,” assured Andrés Góngora, Provincial Secretary of COAG Almería.
Source: Fresh Plaza