A variety of Mexican states are actively promoting the production of watermelons, melons and papayas, according to the country's Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA).

In an update, the department revealed combined international sales of these three crops rose 10.7% between January and July in 2016, reaching US$238 million. 

SAGARPA said this had partly to do with the opening of new markets, as well as commercial promotion that has taken place over recent years.

Statistics from the Agricultural and Fishing Information Service (SIAP) show watermelon production for the period reached 753,817 metric tons (MT), with 23% coming from Sonora and the remainder grown mostly in Jalisco, Chihuahua, Veracruz and Nayarit.

The year's watermelon harvest is forecast to reach 1.28 million MT, which would represent annual growth of 25.4%.

In melons, production for the period reached 352,500MT, out of an expected 603,000MT for the whole year which would mean an increase of 7.4%.

In papayas, SIAP reported 548,000MT had been harvested between January and June, with a 15% year-on-year growth target for 2016 to reach more than one million MT.

The service reported the main production region for the fruit is Oaxaca, accounting for a third of national papaya volume.

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