The forecasts, due to be unveiled at Medfel, have now been released, and confirm the expected fall in melon surface areas. It is moderate in Morocco, with surface areas shrinking primarily for open-field cultivation around Marrakech (- 7 % on 2019), where greenhouses registered another rise. Planting held up in Dakhla, although the marketing period is becoming concentrated.
Spain should see a restricted fall for the Charentais melon, with the shutdown of a historic operator offset by the takeover of its brand and by expanding areas in Murcia (4 600 ha as opposed to 4 300 ha). However, there could be a more marked general fall in the supply, across all varieties, with melon surface areas switching to the courgette in Almeria, following the sales difficulties from previous campaigns, and poor weather at the start of the year, which prevented planting from being carried out on time.
Yet the fall will be most marked in France, after two economically difficult years for production. The downturn will be approximately 13 % from 2019, with the loss of 1 000 hectares. The Rouge-Gorge brand will be taken over by Force Sud. The forthcoming production will also be governed by the labour restrictions imposed by lockdown as part of the fight against Covid-19.
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