Markets - Revista F&H

16
Melon southeastern Spain |
Interest grows in ‘Piel de sapo’
THE ‘PIEL DE SAPO’ MELON INCREASES ITS FIGURES. HOWEVER, THE SEEDS TRY TO
LOOK FOR MATERIALS WITH FLAVOR AND GOOD CONSERVATION.
The farmer demands varieties
that cover the production
cycle; the consumer
is attracted by the varieties
with a high sugar level and
the supermarkets are looking
for long life products on
their shelves.
The commitment of the
seed companies focus on
offering long life products
in the supermarkets without
losing the main features
of the melon: smell
and taste, among others
aspects.
There are markets that ask
F&H International • April 2013 Markets
Galia melons as in certain
supermarkets of United
Kingdom, although most of
the seed companies say that
this type of melon has its
sell-by date in a short time.
In the south-eastern of
Spain there is an interest
in ‘piel de sapo’ melon. In
fact, the surface of melon in
greenhouse in Murcia has
had an upward trend in the
last three years. The figures
of 2011 show 250 hectares,
respect to 220 hectares of
2010 or 190 hectares in
2009. The volume has also
had an increase.
With regard to the melon
harvested in the open, the
farmers have a positive
trend because there is more
surface, in particular more
than 2,400 hectares.
Piel de sapo melon has the
first position in production
in Almeria. In fact, number
of hectares have had an
evolution in four years, until
1,470 hectares.
“Last year was planted in
Almeria more Piel de sapo
melon, even ended later
with a good quality of mel-
on, while other types, such
as Galia and Cantaloupe,
decreased the volume.
However, the melon depends
on the results of previous
crops, such as tomato,
pepper and cucumber
to know what is going to
happen the coming year”,
explains Joaquín Navarro
of Sakata.
The demand for melon continues
to increase because
seed companies, farmers,
supermarkets and traditional
shops are looking for
a high quality product.