Watermelon sourced from the Canary Islands boosts supply for Hillfresh - FreshFruitPortal.com

Watermelon sourced from the Canary Islands boosts supply for Hillfresh

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Watermelon sourced from the Canary Islands boosts supply for Hillfresh

The first batches of Canary Islands watermelons have arrived in the Netherlands in a new deal between Dutch fruit supplier Hillfresh International and Spanish producer Ramafrut. Watermelon slices - sq

In conversation with www.freshfruitportal.com, Hillfresh International's head of melon imports Edwin Fillekes tells us about sourcing seedless varieties from the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands through a partnership program with Ramafrut which has operations in mainland Spain, West Africa and Panama.

"This is a new product for us and it's from the Canary Islands (Las Palmas). Together we have a deal with the company Ramafrut based in Valencia and they have a new experiment in the Canary Islands which was a little bit delayed because it is new and the weather circumstances were not that good recently. However, it's all working great now," Fillekes said.

"We have received a second container and so the season is well underway. It will be quite short as normally the season should last from week 42 until week 2 or 3, which is around a 10-week season but we also source from elsewhere in the world to provide a year-round supply.

"Coming from the Canaries are mainly seedless varieties of watermelons including the Boston with its stripes, the black watermelon variety Fashion and Premium which is a smaller striped variety. They are fantastic watermelons, of excellent quality and of course GlobalG.A.P certified. We're all really pleased to get the new watermelons from the Canaries."

Canaries good alternative source of watermelons

With a faster transport time compared against sourcing from Central or South America, procuring the fruit from the Canary Islands is a solid, cost-effective alternative for Hillfresh, explains Fillekes.

"In the overseas season we look for alternatives and that is why we have started with the Canary Islands produce.

"Brazil is expensive in terms of product, sea freight and also import duties. Over the last three years the area of Mossoro has had a lack of water due to the extreme dryness and high temperatures.

"To avoid problems, and to supply clients properly, we chose the Canary Islands, next to Brazil which also has a shorter transit time."

Sourcing further south

In addition, Hillfresh International supplies various varieties throughout the year and is due to begin its schedule with Central American countries from next week onwards.

"We will start with Guatemala next week until week 20 (next year) with Cantaloupe, Galia and yellow Honeydew melons.

"We will receive a huge program from Costa Rica in week 5 including Cantaloupe, Charentais, Galia, yellow Honeydew and Piel de Sapo melons.

"And from Senegal we will receive a program of seedless watermelons from week 5 to week 18. From here, there is a transit time of around eight days which is much shorter in comparison to Central America. Finally, Panama brings us seeded watermelons from week 12 to week 19."

Hillfresh International supplies markets all over Europe in the retail, wholesale and fresh-cut sectors.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

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