Spanish melon contract growers are at a loss

Tholen - “It is always extreme, so to speak, but I have been here for 20 years now and I have never seen it so extreme”, Thomas Bos of Thomasol Gestión starts from Alicante. “There are so few melons available, and what is there is not the right size or damaged. Retail can do nothing with it. The product is too small.” Spain has had to deal with extreme drought this year, but the low availability of melons is, according to Thomas, paradoxically due to the heavy rains with hail in April and May. “Not a drop of rain fell from December to April, but just when our melons were in bloom here in the eastern part of Spain, continuous rain for 12 days ruined the fruit set. On the other hand, this precipitation period provides enormous peace for the winter, especially for the open field vegetable season. Growers can start planning again, because if you have to plant in September and October without access to enough water for irrigation, then you leave your land fallow, of course.” According ...