HUNDREDS of keen ‘melon’ lovers flocked yesterday to the first edition of the vibrant and flavourful Bahraini Cantaloupe Festival at the permanent Farmers Market in Howrat A’ali.
The festival is being held for the first time to highlight seasonal Bahraini farm produce that may only have a limited period to select.
Bahraini farms produce five types of cantaloupe: creamy, Chinese, rock, green rock and Kassab with sales predicted to reach up to 500 kilograms per day.
The price per kilogram is currently 500fils but costs do vary depending on quantity and demand.
Top Bahraini artists and sculptors were also present at the festival to shape out characters and artworks from the fruit.
Farmer Sadiq Mirza, 50, said the cantaloupe season was one of the shortest in the country. “We grow imported seeds after culturing soil in September and it takes two months for the cantaloupe to ripe before we are actually able to harvest and sell,” he said.
“The tree itself starts to wilt and die within two to three weeks so the season is very short. But, it is one of the more popular fruits, so sales are extremely high.”
Farmer Jassim Mohammed, 30, said planting cantaloupe was a lengthy and expensive process. “We import seeds, mainly from China, and then have to treat the soil in our farm and use special fertilisers before growing them,” he said.
“The process of adjusting the soil and culturing it takes time and despite the season as in my case, being just two weeks, it is rewarding due to the demand from enthusiasts, restaurants and hotels.
“Not many people know that the cantaloupe is locally grown and this festival helps shed light not just on this fruit but all other local offerings, so it helps us a lot in pushing our produce.”
Farmer Hani Mohammed Hassan, 26, said the public response to the festival had been overwhelming. “It sells itself, as people love them and they are shocked when they find out that we produce five types on our farms, so after a taste test they often buy one of each,” he said. “However, the creamy and Chinese remain the top sellers, because they tend to be soft and sweet.
“We are always seeking ways to improve our production using the latest technologies and techniques. We’re always eager to introduce new advancements in the field.”
Visiting the market with his wife, 41-year-old well-known Bahraini perfumer Sayed Hassan Hussain believes the sensory smell of fresh produce appears to give everyone within close distance a burst of energy.
“As a perfumer, I love smells, but my favourite has and will always be melon and mint,” he said. “So when I heard about this festival, I came with my wife, and we were not disappointed.
“They even sell melon jalapeno and melon sweets, I always thought that melons were only good as juices or for fruit salads, but for the first time I am seeing other uses.”
The festival also included farm animals on display and a variety of children’s activities.
The GDN previously reported that the 10th edition of the seasonal Bahraini Farmers Market, which closed before Ramadan, attracted 250,000 visitors.
The 11the edition at Budaiya Botanical Garden is set to start next month. However, no opening date has been announced.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
WE asked the GDN’s AI intern Dana Speaks all about the cool cantaloupe and she was fun of praise for the product.
She said: “A cantaloupe is a type of melon that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. It is characterised by its round or oval shape, with a rough, netted skin that can range in colour from green to yellow-orange when ripe. “The flesh of a cantaloupe is typically juicy and sweet, with a vibrant orange hue.
It is often enjoyed fresh as a refreshing snack or used in various culinary preparations, such as fruit salads, smoothies, or desserts.
“Cantaloupes are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as other beneficial nutrients, making them a healthy and delicious addition to one’s diet.”
- If you have a question for Dana, click here.
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