The Staay Food Group is expecting its first watermelons to arrive in the Netherlands in roughly week 7. This year, this melon specialist is again fully focusing on the seedless varieties. Yellow YHD, Galia, and Cantaloupe melons will follow around week 9/10.
For over 25 years, Staay melons have been grown in Costa Rica under on-site supervision. Of course, this year, too, they will be packed under the Staay DULCE house brand. The entire production has been Rainforest Alliance certified since 2015. And, thanks to own cultivation, it is fully traceable.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainty on the market. Added to this, there are global container transport logistical problems. These will, however, not impede Staay's imports. That is partly thanks to the company's close partnership with the shipping companies.
Staay Food Group's own cultivation in Costa Rica is called SFG Dulce S.A. On the sales side, we have several loyal buyers. This, combined with more than 30 years of experience in melon growing and the Costa Rican Staay branch provides insights has made Staay decide to set up a solid program again this season.
There are currently corona-related and (sea) transport issues. We expect that only the traditional exporters will be able to cope with these. Importers face the challenge of creating a stable market situation. The current Brazilian melon season is still challenging in that regard. However, the market should develop positively, both sales and price-wise. That could mean a nice transition to the Costa Rica season.