First predictions for new watermelon and melon plantings in Spain

The first forecasts for this year's new plantings of watermelon and melon have been announced in Spain. Forecasts call for a 10% reduction in watermelon cultivation next spring. As far as the melon crop is concerned, it is predicted to be the same as last year's levels. In particular, the Spanish Association of Young Farmers (Asociación Agraria jovenes Agricultores - ASAJA) of the Almería Province claims that in 2024, 81,000 hectares of watermelons and 25,000 hectares of melons are expected to be cultivated in greenhouses. Referring to the reduction of acres for watermelon, Mr. Adoración Blanque, president of ASAJA-Almería, states that "the instability of watermelon prices that we have had in recent years forces many producers to continue growing vegetables this spring." He also adds that the late plantings of tomatoes with the good prices they give have ...