In W30 in the watermelon landscape, the harvest of Turkish Osmaneli watermelons has commenced in the Marmara Region's important watermelon production hub. Producers are satisfied with both the yield and prices, as they export their products to different parts of Turkey and countries such as Ukraine, Germany, and Poland. Farmers have cultivated watermelons on 3.5 thousand hectares (ha) in Osmaneli and surrounding villages.
Watermelon growers in Almería, Spain, are grappling with a difficult season due to a reduced cultivated area caused by drought and rain-related losses. Plunging prices prompted some growers to discard their harvest in protest. Despite rising demand for watermelons as a summer staple, imports from third countries, including Morocco, have exacerbated tensions. On the other hand, during W30, the European Union's food control services seized a shipment of Moroccan red watermelons at a border control point for failing to meet approved health standards. The confiscated watermelons contained a banned insecticide called methanol, which has been prohibited in agriculture by the European Union and other countries, including Morocco, since September due to its harmful effects on human health. The National Office for Health Safety of Food Products (UNSA) has initiated thorough investigations.
Recent torrential rains brought by Typhoon Du Surui have caused significant damage to watermelon crops in Hualien County, Taiwan. The cumulative rainfall reached 935.5 millimeters, leading to flooding and losses for farmers during the critical watermelon harvesting period. The Council of Agriculture has announced cash relief for natural disasters to help affected farmers, providing subsidies per hectare and promoting the use of insurance for future protection.
Lastly, in the de-occupied area of the Kherson region of Ukraine, approximately 6 thousand tons of watermelons and melons are projected to be harvested, constituting around 3.75% of the pre-Russian occupation yield in the region. Kherson Oblast previously accounted for 35 to 40% of Ukraine's total melon crop production, with over 160 thousand tons harvested from 22.5 thousand ha. In 2023, watermelon cultivation resumed in specific communities within the de-occupied territory. Furthermore, Ukrainian producers have commenced the shipment of initial sizable consignments of watermelons, pricing them at USD 0.49 to 0.73/kg (UAH 18 to 27/kg), an average increase of 59% compared to the same period in 2022.
