Honduras will start its first melon shipments Dec. 1, 40 days late due to heavy rain in May, according to local newspaper La Prensa.

The United States, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and England are the main markets for the fruit harvested in Choluteca and Valle, in the south.

Melons are readied for shipment in Guatemala.

Among the varieties destined for export are cantaloupe, honey dew and galia, according to information confirmed by officials from the Agriculture Ministry, the newspaper website said.

Heavy rain in May delayed planting, which was supposed to start in September, but started in October.  About 6,000 hectares of land are planted with melons for the first cycle of 2010-11.

Last year, Honduras exported 233,339 metric tons of melons, which generated US $41.9 million. The melon industry has not released forecasts for the 2010-11 season, the website said.

Guatemala is starting its second cycle of melon exports, expecting volumes to match last year’s, according to local newspaper La Prensa Libre.

According to the report, Martha Castañón, of the Guatemala exporters group Agexport, said about 389,000 metric tons of the fruit will be shipped, the same as in 2009. The exports generated about US $124 million. The main markets are the United States and Europe, the website said.

Photo: La Prensa Libre

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com