GALIA MELON

The Galia Melon is the first crop we plant. The first field will be planted in an open area on the 15^th of July. At the beginning of the season the growing time will be 55 days so that the first shipment will probably arrive in Europe on the last week of September.

The autumn varieties include: Gal-96, Gal-51, 5093,488, 6005, Ideal, Total.

Once the winter arrives we will start the planting inside greenhouses, with the first planting around the 10^th of November for the February harvest.

The winter varieties include: Arava, Gal-152, 2031, 7760, C-8.

1. Supply

Table 2. Galia melon supply through the season

Period	Month	Weeks	Trucks/week	Cartons/week
1	Sep02 – Nov02	39 – 48	4 – 5	20000
2	Nov02 – Dec02	49 – 51	1- 2	4000
3	Jan03 – Feb03	52 – 8	Few pallets by air	2000
4	Feb03 – Apr03	9 – 15	4 – 5	20000

2 . Size

Table 3. Size changes through the season.

Period	Size 4	Size 5	Size 6	Size 8	Size 9/11
1	15% max.	35% min	35% min	15% min
2	10% max	35% min	35% min	20% max
3			15%	70%	15%
4	10%max	35%min	35% min	15% max	5% max

3. Color

Melons will be picked with color variation No. 5 – No. 8 according to the

Galia melon color chart.

4. Appearance

Fruit will be fully developed, clean and sound.

The surface will be netted all over. (With tolerance of pale patches without

netting up to 25%)

Shape will be spherical or oval.

5. Temperature Control

Field heat will be removed within 12 hours of harvest by forcing cold air

through packed melons.

Transport temperature to your warehouse would be 5 – 7 degrees C.

6. Packaging

Cardboard carton with cardboard cell (inserted to prevent movement of the

melons during transport).

Minimum weight of 5 kg. Each.

The sizes of the melon will be at the caliber range of:

Size Diameter range ( mm )

4 136 – 150

5 124 – 136

6 111 - 124

8 105 – 111

9 98 – 105

7. Sugar

Minimum sugar level average would be: Period 1 , 2 minimum of 9 brix

Period 3 , 4 minimum of 11 brix.