Shortages across Morocco are tipped to push up the prices of watermelons ahead of this year’s Eid celebrations.
Warm temperatures in the UK have increased demand for a fruit that was already highly sought after during Ramadan, which ends on 14 June.
Wholesale prices shot up by more than 20% at the end of last month after growers suffered a slow start to the new season in the Mediterranean, according to Nader Shobaki, director of Berkshire wholesaler Global Fruit & Veg.
Growers in Morocco - the world’s sixth-biggest producer of the fruit - have struggled to meet growing demand from fasting Muslims.
“The 20% spike came in just two days,” Shobaki says. “But the season is getting closer so shortages should ease off in the next few weeks.”
Produce with high water content make regular appearances on tables at evening Iftar meals, with melons among those popular. Yellow melons have also experienced shortages in recent weeks, with suppliers switching to piel de sapo varieties to fill the gap, says sales and logistics manager at Fountain Fresh Imports, Eduardo Quinto.
The most common Ramadan staple, though, is dates, making headlines this week when the goalkeeper for the Tunisian national football squad was accused of faking injuries during matches to allow his teammates to dash off to break their fast with dates and water.
“Ramadan always brings higher demand as the Prophet Muhammad ended his fast with a single date,” says Richard Stoker, MD of date specialist Western Commodities.
“This year Ramadan finishes before the start of the new crop harvest, which can often send prices up, but there has been good availability of dates so far, which means this hasn’t been the case.”
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