Watermelons and Melons in Serbia: The Sweet Battle of Local Farms Against Imports
Have you ever wondered where in Serbia you can find the sweetest watermelons and melons? It’s not just a matter of taste, but a little drama unfolding in the fields of Serbia! Around 7,000 hectares are dedicated to watermelon and melon cultivation in Serbia, and the demand for juicy, sweet melons and watermelons during the summer months is exploding. But can local produce compete with imports?
Imports That Keep Doubling
Imagine this: the import of watermelons and melons into Serbia has doubled in the last seven years! While local watermelons are considered unbeatable in taste, the market is increasingly flooded with imports from Greece, Albania, Macedonia, and even Spain. How to tell local from imported? It’s not easy, as fewer watermelon fields are seen in open fields, and more are grown in tunnels and greenhouses.
Where Have the Old Varieties Gone?
Another mystery is where the old native melon varieties have disappeared to. Have they been replaced by new varieties, or is this just a consequence of modernization and imports? The team from the show “Blic Dan” went straight to Srem, the Serbian capital of watermelon growers, to check this year’s yield and purchase prices. And what did they find? The quality of watermelons from central Serbia is increasingly becoming a competitor to the famous Srem watermelons!
Why Local is Better
Consumers say local watermelons and melons have an incomparable taste. But is it just nostalgia or real knowledge and tricks of the growers? The sweetness of the watermelon heart is not luck, but skill and experience.
Conclusion
While Serbia continues to import huge quantities of watermelons and melons, local producers fight to preserve tradition and quality. Will local produce reclaim its place on tables, or will imports continue to dominate? That question remains open.
If you love juicy summer fruits, maybe it’s time to ask yourself — when was the last time you bought a local watermelon or got tricked by an import? Share your experience, maybe you know where the sweetest watermelons are hiding this year!
Slug: watermelons-and-melons-in-serbia-sweet-battle-local-farms-against-imports
