ROME -From BMTI’s elaborations of wholesale data collected at the Rome wholesale market, belonging to the ITALMERCATI Network, the anomalous weather pattern that involved our country until the first half of June, affected the demand, production and prices of two products that are typically summer vegetables and mainly consumed in this period: melon and watermelon.

Specifically, the rains that poured from May to the first half of June reduced production and, consequently, quality as well as the level of demand of the two vegetables, which inevitably remained low at the beginning of both campaigns and which also kept prices low.

The sudden heat that began in the second half of June, however, caused the level of demand for melons and watermelons to hike and, consequently, their prices to soar 125 percent and 78 percent, respectively, compared to a year ago.

In particular, the wholesale price of melon this week ranges from 2.50 to 3.00 euros/kg, for the Rome market, to peaks that even touch 3.50-4.00 euros/Kg for the product of the distinct zone of (Lombardy) while for watermelon prices range from 0.80 to 1.00 euros/Kg.

Price table

Week of July 1-7, 2023 compared to Week of July 1-7, 2022 with Var (%)

WATERMELONS 12-16 KG BINS 0.80 €/Kg 0.45 €/kg +78%.

RETATI MELONS 100-1250 GR 2.70 €/kg 1.20 €/kg +125%

Source: agricultura.it