The Fyffes melon story - Cultivation and Distribution
All melons are Cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae). The cucurbit family includes species such as the gourd, watermelons, cantaloupes, squash, and pumpkins. Melons grow from seed in hot dry climates. On a trailing vine and optimum temperatures ensure a necessary balance between fruit growth and vine growth. Bright sunny days favour sugar accumulation in the melon. Fyffes melons are sourced from Brazil in the Rio Grande do Norte province where Fyffes is a 60% shareholder of Nolem – Brazil’s largest exporter of winter season melons into Europe. Other melons come from regions of Central America.
Melons prefer well-drained soils. Heavier soils are preferred because of their greater water-retention capacity, which slows the onset of vine collapse in very hot days. Depending on the climate the melon crop can take c. 6 to 7 months to grow from seed planting to find harvest.
When harvesting, melons are cut from the vine instead of pulled. Pulling can create a cracking wound that pathogens can enter and quickly destroy the quality of the fruit. The fruit is packed in cardboard cartons and then stored best between 7°C and 10°C. At lower temperatures, surface breakdown and decay will set in and will result in poor flavour and a softening of the fruit. High humidity is important at this stage to prevent water loss.