Dutch company Hillfresh will take delivery of this season's first Spanish melon consignments on Friday 28 May, with supplies of glasshouse production expected to continue until week 23.
Open field crops are due to be harvested from the second week of June onwards, according to Gregal, the Murcian cooperative association which supplies Hillfresh with Spanish melons under the Gregal brand.
'The weather in Murcia has delayed the crop approximately by one week compared to previous years,' revealed Pieter de Jong of Hillfresh. 'At this moment the weather in Murcia is optimal for growing melons.'
The group's expectations for the coming season are high, especially given the fact Gregal is able to ship good-tasting, quality melons to the northern European market before the start of June, Mr De Jong added.
'Starting next week there will also be Cantaloupe melons from the greenhouse,' he revealed.
