The domestic melon season starts in February at Tesco

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 02. 19. 11:32

Every year, Tesco prepares for the summer season with several thousand tons of Hungarian-grown watermelons, which, in addition to domestic supermarkets, also end up on the shelves of Tesco stores in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Following the demands of customers, the sowing of melons for the 2025 season began in February. Hungarian producers sow about 600-700 thousand seeds for Tesco on about 180-200 hectares, and the harvest of ripe melons that develop from these provides employment for 500-600 people at the peak of work.

The memory of last year’s melons already seems distant, and the taste of this year’s sweet, juicy fruit is almost unimaginable. However, Tesco has already started preparations for the 2025 melon season. Domestic producers supplying Tesco stores sow approximately 600-700 thousand melon seeds on 180-200 hectares from February to the end of March, from which several thousand tons of watermelons will ripen for the summer season.

A whole year of work is behind it so that the popular fruit reaches the customers’ baskets in the right quality during the summer months. Tesco already monitors customer needs and consumption in the previous season, and the partners plan the sowing for the next season based on the data. The planting will take place in stages between April 5 and mid-June, and the first watermelons usually arrive in Tesco stores in July.

In the summer of 2025, in addition to seeded watermelons, black seedless, mini, baby and yellow-fleshed watermelons will be available in Tesco’s selection. To meet demand, 500-600 people are employed during the most labor-intensive tasks to harvest, prepare and transport melons for Tesco. The sweet and juicy delicacy is then sold in domestic stores as well as for export to the Czech and Slovak markets.