A shortage of water and the impact of Spain’s recent transport strike have led to the worst Spanish watermelon campaign in 25 years, according leading fresh produce association Asaja Almeria.
In a statement released this week, the organisation’s vice-president, Pascual Soler, claimed that the “poor quality” and size of this season’s crop, which had been caused by a lack of water in Spain, had resulted a 50 per cent fall in marketed produce.
Mr Soler said the Spanish haulier’s strike, which paralysed much of the country's fresh produce industry in June, had also affected the distribution and sales of watermelons at their peak period of production, which he claimed had resulted in a “major fall” in produce prices.
Although the greenhouse watermelon crop fared better, the organisation said the harvest would “in no way” match that of previous years.
Mr Soler said the disappointing results of this year’s watermelon campaign had shown the necessity of having a “sufficient quantity of water” available to produce a product of high quality.
He added that the “poor price” received by watermelon growers this season was not reflected in the cost of the produce to consumers, claiming that shoppers pay an average of €1.50 per kilo.
