Intense winter freezes have delayed the watermelon harvest in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's top producing state for the fruit, Agricultura.ruralbr.com.br reported.

Harvest for early varieties is expected to come in December, about a month later than the typical November window.  The later harvest period is not expected to negatively impact productivity.

A reported 3,800 hectares of the fruit were planted in the state this season. Average yield is forecast at 30 tons (MT) per hectare.

The Brazilian publication reported the fruit's price had increased 20% over the past 12 months. The retail price of a kilo of watermelons is expected to remain the same however, placing pressure on farmers to improve productivity.

Rio Grande do Sul supplies a large part of the Brazilian market, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais as the main buyers.

Brazil is the world’s fourth largest producer of watermelons, after China, Iran and Turkey, according the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2011, Brazil produced 2,198,624 MT of watermelons.

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

www.freshfruitportal.com