French melon growers optimistic for the season ahead

Melon producers in south-west France are optimistic about this season’s production as the weather is set to improve by the end of the week.

Météo France has forecast ‘summer-like’ conditions for this weekend and, with the melon harvest now less than a month away, growers are predicting a strong season with high-quality fruit.

According to Magalie Thillac, president of the Association pour la Promotion du Melon de Lectoure, the first harvest and start of the season are scheduled for around June 10. At present, producers are still in the final stages of preparing and planting the later melon varieties.

“For now, the plants look pretty good. We recently had a few cool and rainy days, so it was time for that to stop and for the sun to come back. But overall, the plants are in very good health,” she told The Connexion.

She added that the return of sunshine and warmer temperatures has been highly beneficial. “We had rain, so the plants rooted well and everything became properly established,” Ms Thillac explained.

“And now, in these final stages before harvest, the heat and sunshine are perfect. It is exactly what we needed.”

Of course, until the final moment, the harvest remains uncertain as weather conditions can still be unpredictable. For now, however, Ms Thillac said growers “have things secured”.

She also explained that the warm weather is expected to improve the quality of the melons, noting that such conditions generally produce better fruit.

“When we have a warm summer with pleasant temperatures, people consume more melons, so it’s a win-win situation because the melons are also of higher quality when the weather is hot,” she added.

If conditions continue to remain favourable, Ms Thillac hopes for an excellent season and hopes that both producers and consumers “enjoy Charentais melons”.