New season Israeli melons from Agrexco have arrived in the UK. There are two melon varieties exported to the UK market this season - Galia and Charentais.
The melons are grown primarily in Israel’s Arava desert region under plastic cover, grown vertically under netting rather than in soil to avoid any risk of soil damage.
General manager for Agrexco UK Amos Orr said that the favourable growing conditions, including the good levels of light, have resulted in high-quality Galia melons, with good skin-netting, yellow colouring and high Brix levels between 10-12 per cent.
"During the winter months and colder climate, Galia melons take 90 days to develop from flowering to harvest,” said Orr. “With the warmer weather and the change in the season, this process now takes only 60 days. This means there is no longer any gelatine in the seed cavity and the shelf-life is improved".
The ideal growing conditions have meant high volume levels and Agrexco will be able to supply the UK market with Galia melons until the middle of May with sizes ranging from 4s for processing to 5-7s and 9s for twin packs.
First shipments of Charentais arrived in mid-April and supplies will also be available until the second week of May. "We are bringing in sizes 5s and 6s to the UK market - the demand is high but we do have decent volumes available," said Orr.
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