France, troubles organic melon campaign

26 Aug, 2009 - Green Med Journal

The 2009 French organic melon campaign stayed stable, despite a delayed starting in imports from Senegal, Morocco and Spain that caused overlapping on the market at the beginning of June. ... read more...

USA: Kiwano Melons will catch your eye

Aug 11, 2009 - Examiner

The Kiwano melon (also known as a horned melon) cannot be overlooked once spotted in the produce section of the grocery store. The fruit seems alien, and is quite unknown in the United States. With its orange oval body and horns—which are sharper than they seem—the fruit is a native to Africa, although it is being harvested in New Zealand as well as parts of California. ... read more...

David will be in Japan! Any requests?

by David Ivanovic

I'll be in Japan for a couple of days, and I'll take that opportunity to meet some key players involved in exotics product imports and to share with you how they are marketed in this 130 million people market.

Mata!

Japan: Fruit fetishists given chance to pick up pyramid-shaped watermelon for princely 52,000 yen (approx. $US 500)

July 19, 2009 – Mainichi Shimbun

An unusual pyramid-shaped watermelon has drawn attention from customers in a department store here. The watermelon measures about 25 centimeters high and is priced at 52,500 yen. It was grown by a farmer in the town of Tsukigata in Hokkaido, by placing it in a specially-shaped plastic shell and  … read more…

Spain: Procomel launches Sugar Baby Gold

July 13, 2009 - Fruitnet.com

Spanish melon grower-exporter Procomel has lauched a new melon variety, branded Sugar Baby Gold, which it claims contains ... read more...

USA: Wet spring slows vegetable, melon planting

July 14, 2009 - South East Farm Press

A cool, wet spring delayed planting and crop progress across most U.S. spring and summer vegetable-producing areas, according to the USDA’s latest Vegetable and Melons Outlook Report. ... read more...

Japan: Method aids seedless melon production

July 14, 2009 - Japan Times

A Sapporo-based research institute has recently developed new technology to preserve the pollen of seedless watermelons for more than a year, raising hopes that fruit-growers can expand the market on a wide scale and create a new revenue source. ... read more...

USA: California Westside melon deal sees strong start

July 9, 2009 - The Packer

The California Westside cantaloupe and honeydew melon season has started with large sizes and good sugar content, but there's the potential for a production slowdown in mid- to late July. "The crop looks really good," said ... read more...