After success, Greek farmers increase watermelon production

Greek watermelon growers are planning to expand their crop this year, following a successful season last year and higher average selling prices over the past two years. They are allocating more space for early plantings and reducing late plantings due to weather risks. The harvest is expected to start in late May or early summer. There is growing interest in seedless and smaller 'baby' watermelon varieties. The main export markets are Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia, but other markets are also under consideration.

This year, Greek watermelon growers are encouraged to grow a larger crop because of last year’s success. They have already set aside larger areas for early plantings at the expense of late plantings, which are more risky due to outdoor cultivation and the vagaries of the weather, Ypaithros reports. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture: How have prices, production and the market for fruits and vegetables changed in our country? Another incentive for Greeks is the increased average selling price per kilogram. It has increased in the last two years. If weather conditions are favorable, the watermelon harvest will begin towards the end of May or the beginning of summer, says grower Takis Savopoulos. He grows round watermelons weighing 6 to 10 kg each. There has been recent interest in seedless varieties, as well as the “baby” type, which are much smaller in size. We plant more than 1,000 hectares of early watermelons every year in our region, says Giorgos Selikounas, a producer ...