A blip in supplies of Spanish melons is starting to clear as the season of Murcia fruit comes on stream later than expected.

Leading suppliers into the supermarkets report that the season from the south-eastern Spanish region is running some 10 days to two weeks late.

"This, following on from an awkward season out of Almeria, which did not have the volumes required, has meant difficulties," said one supplier.

Fruit from Murcia usually becomes available in the second week of June, but volumes have only started to build this week. "There were not the necessary temperatures and sunshine in April to bring the Cartagena produce on," said the supplier. The area around Cartagena is the main growing area of the Murcia region.

Fruit across all three main varieties - yellow, Galia and Canteloupe - from Murcia should be available in required volumes from the weekend through to season’s end in September.

Sizes have been an issue so far this season with yellow fruit coming up a bit small - mainly in 10-12 counts compared to the preferred 7-9s. "As of next week, this should all be back to normal," said another source.

Galia and Canteloupe sizing has been less affected by the climatic vagaries and fruit has been on stream in the preferred profiles of 9-12s.

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