The summer season is in full swing at REO Veiling, Belgium. Strawberries and berries are marketed under the Fine Fleur quality label. This year, a special fruit has been added to the summer assortment of this cooperative: the Belgian Charentais cantaloupe melon.

These cantaloupe melons are produced by a grower dedicated exclusively to the cultivation of this fruit. “He has years of experience growing products like pumpkins, and has been conducting tests on melons for a long time. The Kruishoutem Experiment Center is also involved in these trials. The peculiarity is that the grower took the time necessary to ensure the quality of the fruit. It is not only about producing but also about having fruits with a genuine flavor. And in fact, melons are very sweet.” Currently, Anaste, Suzanne and Bakkara varieties are grown. “These are very tasty varieties,” says Jurgen.

Potential strong expansion The first of these Belgian Charentais melons should be available very soon. Jurgen says the harvest benefited from a hot spring. “These melons are grown under plastic tunnels, the covers of which are removed once the melons have flowered. Everything seems to be very promising. When the fruits hit the market, each one will weigh about a kilogram.”

Most of the fruit will find an outlet on local markets and overseas, through wholesalers. France and the United Kingdom are particularly important foreign destinations. Fine Fleur represents high quality local and seasonal products. Local Charentais melons are a nice addition to the range. “What are the main advantages? It is a local product. The grower is located near the auction site, so the product only has to travel a short distance. This allows you to be able to harvest melons later, so that they are more ripe and flavorful.”