Where do the watermelons that Mercadona is selling this summer come from?
Mercadona is committed to using local products in its supermarkets and, as proof of this, watermelons. The excellent summer fruits that the distribution network chaired by Juan Roig has in all its stores are of national origin and demonstrate a strong commitment to the Spanish raw material sector.
Mercadona announced that during this year’s campaign, from April to October, it plans to purchase more than 115,000 tons of watermelons, representing a remarkable increase of 38% compared to the previous year and further strengthening its commitment national product.
In detail, the Valencian distribution company plans to sell watermelons coming from the fields of Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, the Murcia region, the Canary Islands, the Valencian Community and Catalonia, thanks to the stable agreements it maintains with 22 specialized suppliers.
“We work closely together to meet the expectations of our customers, who demand sweet red watermelon “The characteristic juicy and crunchy texture of this summer fruit,” explains Elvira Gill, Mercadona specialist.
The physical supermarket and online sales company offers the national watermelon in two formats: whole and cutand the main varieties of this fruit work: Bengal, Red Jasper, Moon Jam, Fenway, Style, Bazman and Boston“It is certainly one of the most sought after fruits due to its high water content, so we work hand in hand with our customers and suppliers to determine the quality we should offer,” adds Gill.
100% Spanish watermelon
The volume of watermelon purchases on the domestic market planned within the framework of this campaign corresponds to the commitments Mercadona on local fruits and vegetables. As every year, during the campaign and when the product is of sufficient quality, 100% Spanish watermelon come from different autonomous communities, reflecting the company’s commitment to this sector.
Last year, Mercadona’s purchase volume in Spain reached 27.142 million euros22% more than the previous year, ensuring that more than 85% of Mercadona’s range is of national origin, with products grown, caught, processed or recycled on our territory.
Likewise, the Valencian company defends fair commercial practices and has been committed to them for many years Code of Good Business Practice in the field of food contracts. This voluntary agreement, which represents a step in promoting fair trade practices, is enshrined in the Law on Measures to Improve the Functioning of the Food Chain and is promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) in collaboration with various associations throughout the national agri-food chain.