The Early Watermelon Season Has Begun in Ukraine: Prices, Forecasts, and the 2025 Harvest

The early watermelon season has officially started in Ukraine — the first batches of this popular summer fruit are already appearing in markets, generating significant interest among consumers. Since the beginning of June, buyers have been actively inquiring about melons, which have become a traditional symbol of the start of summer.

This is reported by AgroReview

Watermelon Prices and Market Dynamics

There is stable demand for watermelons in wholesale markets, despite relatively high prices. Specifically, on June 20, 2025, the price for a kilogram of watermelon at the Lviv market “Shuvar” was 35 hryvnias, indicating a continued trend of high prices for melon crops. This situation is due to a number of factors, including restrictions on export potential and rising cultivation costs.

Production and Yield Forecasts

Ukrainian farmers plan to significantly expand the area under melon crops in 2025, doubling the figures compared to last year. However, as reported by Dmitry Yunusov, head of the agriculture department of the Kherson Regional State Administration, a significant decrease in prices is not expected. Most of the harvested watermelons will remain in the domestic market, as Kherson region will not be able to achieve the export figures of previous periods this year.

For comparison, in 2021, the area under vegetable and melon crops in Kherson region was 22,500 hectares, including the left bank area. Currently, farmers hope to harvest an average of 10 tons of watermelons per hectare, which is quite an optimistic forecast under current conditions.

“The increase in the production of Kherson watermelons is unlikely to affect their price. The price of melons in 2025 will most likely remain as high as last year,” notes Dmitry Yunusov.

Despite the expansion of plantations, experts do not predict a decrease in watermelon prices this summer, so consumers should prepare for prices similar to those of last year.