The first melon products appeared this year on the wholesale markets almost a month earlier than usual. Last season watermelons and melons were considered early if they appeared on July12-15^th. The first products in season 2012 on the markets of Kyiv could be already bought on 15^th of June and in the south of Ukraine they were available even earlier. According to experts of the Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club" (UCAB), the amount of nitrates is normal in the early products that are sold on wholesale markets.

"A record early start of melon season shocked not only consumers but also the administration of wholesale markets. Because pother around ostensibly harmful melons and watermelons in this early period reaches its peak and most of responsibility lies on markets’ shoulders. But even in early July, we have actually fairly good quality of melon products. As the wholesale market laboratory studies show, the quality of melon production meets required standard, in the first place by the quantity of nitrates. Maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of nitrates in watermelon is 60 mg/kg and in melon - 90 mg/kg ", - said Igor Strelyuk, expert on horticultural markets of UCAB.

According to expert, early product was obtained by method of growing seedlings and usage of temporary covering film of different designs. In addition, dry, warm weather with temperature 25-30ºC and adequate quantity of sunlight in the beginning of the season, in April, accelerated the vegetation period.

By UCAB experts’ estimation, in 2012 watermelons are grown on area around 70 thousand hectares and melons on 20 thousand hectares. It is rather hard to make a yield forecasts, due to climatic conditions of this year. But farmers of Southern regions expect an average productivity of watermelon grown in unirrigated conditions 14-16 t/ha, in irrigated conditions 40-45 t/ha, melon grown in unirrigated conditions  7 -8 t/ha and  in irrigated conditions 10-14 t/ha.

"In addition, season of 2012 will be the longest in the whole period of independent Ukraine. Starting in mid-June, consumers will be able to eat melon products till the end of September and absence of heavy rains will let to enjoy them in October ", - said Igor Strelyuk.

As for prices, currently wholesale price for watermelon is in the range of 3 UAH/kg. Consumers buy production today from 4 UAH/kg. Varietal melon, such as “Amal” costs on wholesale market about 10 UAH/kg and price for consumer is 13 UAH/kg. Melon, which is often called " Kolgospnytsya” has wholesale price of 3-5 UAH/kg and consumers are buying it at a price starting from 6 UAH/kg. By the forecast, watermelon will cost from 1.5 UAH/kg, melon - from 1.8 UAH/kg in July-August.

Additional information by phone: +380 44 201-49-50

E-Mail: [email protected]

UCAB Press Office

Tetiana Kotyk