Castilla-La Mancha melon and watermelon market trends

Agricultural market trends in Castilla-La Mancha have shown fluctuations in fruit pricing. Initially, melon and watermelon prices experienced an upward trend. Melon prices saw significant growth, with first-category melons nearly doubling in value from 0.12–0.14 euros/kg to 0.23–0.26 euros/kg. Watermelon prices also saw moderate increases, such as seedless black watermelon of the first category rising to 0.24–0.26 euros/kg. In subsequent sessions, the market showed mixed trends. Melon prices stabilized across all categories, including extra, first, and second categories. Conversely, watermelon prices saw a decrease, with first-category seedless black and white varieties dropping by four cents per kilogram to a range of 0.20–0.22 euros. During the fifth session of the Melon and Watermelon Price Board in Tomelloso, these trends persisted. First-category seedless black and white watermelons maintained their decrease to the 0.20–0.22 euros/kg range, while other watermelon categories, such as second-category varieties and pollinators, received no quotations. Melon prices remained steady, with the extra category priced between 0.28 and 0.30 euros/kg, the first category between 0.23 and 0.25 euros/kg, and the second category between 0.14 and 0.16 euros/kg. The IGP Melón de La Mancha also remained without a quotation. More recently, the market has entered a new period of widespread price increases across all traded categories, following the progression of the current agricultural campaign. Melon prices rose significantly, particularly in the extra category, which jumped from 0.50–0.54 euros/kg to 0.68–0.72 euros/kg. First-category melons reached 0.50–0.54 euros/kg, and second-category melons rose to 0.26–0.30 euros/kg. Watermelon prices also experienced broad increases. First-category seedless black and white varieties both reached 0.46–0.50 euros/kg, representing a 0.10 euro increase from the previous week. Second-category seedless black and white varieties also rose to a range of 0.21–0.25 euros/kg. As of late September 2026, the upward trend continues across all traded categories.