The cold temperatures in Almería in south-eastern Spain earlier this spring have led a lot of growers to switch out of production of salad lines under the protective structures earlier than usual and into planting melons. According to the regional branch of growers association Coag, is warning therefore that there may be a considerable hike in production volumes.
The cold has also served to slow down the development of melon and watermelon plants and as a result the season is starting later (see FPJ April 1).
Watermelon plantings went in during the end of January and melon varieties in early February. Seedhouses reportedly ran out of plants for transplanting this year across all the major melon and watermelon varieties.
But the Andalusia regional executive for agriculture has indicated that any increase in production is likely to be limited as the acreage that has switched plantings early is not significant: around 10 per cent up on the acreage of last year.
A spokesman for the executive said that any price variations will be as much to do with temperatures in destination markets. “Melons are renowned as an unstable product that is very dependent on weather: if the weather is bad, consumers do not buy melons,” he said.
Of the 25,000ha under plastic in western Almeria, some 80 per cent will produce melons and watermelons this season.
Production is expected to pick up in volume either next week or the week after, a bout a week behind the usual schedule. Total volumes forecast are 200,000 tonnes of watermlelon and melons from the province in the region of Andalusia..
UK importers usually switch into product from Murcia by June.
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