The prices of melon show a certain recovery, although they continue to not reach levels that are profitable for farmers. This has been highlighted in the Melon and Watermelon Price Table of the Agricultural, Horticultural, and Hunting Exchange of Castilla-La Mancha, held this Tuesday in Tomelloso.
According to the City Council, the meeting, led by Antonio Atienza, president of the Exchange, was attended by the councilor of Agriculture of the Tomelloso City Council, Jesús Lara, and the president of the Interprofessional of Melon and Watermelon of Castilla-La Mancha, José Ángel Serrano.
Atienza, who thanked the Tomelloso City Council for the invitation to host this fifth day of the campaign, coinciding with the local festivities, emphasized the importance of bringing the work of the Exchange closer to a city with a strong agri-food tradition and a close connection to melon cultivation.
The current prospects of the campaign "are not bad," he indicated, highlighting the improvement recorded in melon after some particularly difficult days, during which prices fell below production costs.
Regarding watermelon, the president of the Exchange pointed out that it has also followed a positive trend, although he warned that the evolution of temperatures in Europe could affect market behavior in the short term.
In the session this Tuesday, melon prices remained stable compared to the previous week, while watermelon recorded a decrease of four cents per kilo in the prices at origin of the first category fruit.
The Table examines the operations closed during the week, contrasts the market performance, and formulates conclusions that serve to establish reference prices.
Atienza insisted that the exchanges do not set prices, but rather provide references based on the operations carried out, which serve as a guide for farmers and for the entire sector's operators.
The Agricultural, Horticultural, and Hunting Exchange of Castilla-La Mancha integrates the various agents related to the sector. It includes the Interprofessional of Melon and Watermelon of Castilla-La Mancha, ASAJA, business and commercial organizations, as well as farmers, producers, and operators from the region, especially from the La Mancha area.