In this article, discover how watermelons from Spanish solar greenhouses are particularly sustainable and environmentally friendly,

 

 

• Watermelons from Spanish solar greenhouses are particularly sustainable and environmentally friendly, as the production method specifically uses solar energy, optimizes the consumption of water and arable land, and employs biological pest control.
• The fruity treat not only contains valuable ingredients for health, but can also be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

 

The first watermelons of the year are coming from solar greenhouses in the coastal regions of southern Spain and weredelivered from Spain to Germany as early as the beginning of May. They are raised using environmentally friendly and efficient cultivation methods. This guarantees that the taste of summer can be enjoyed to the full. The Cute Solar campaign is supported by the European Union and has set itself the task of shedding more light on the cultivation of fruit and vegetables in the EU. Last season, the area under watermelon cultivation in Spanish solar greenhouses totaled 9,677 hectares.

 

This gives a production capacity of 555,000 tons of watermelons per year, of which 463,000 tons are delivered to the EU domestic market. Almost 184,000 tons are delivered to Germany alone, which corresponds to about 40% of exports to Europe.2 The development of the last five years shows that the demand for sustainable fruits and vegetables is not only unbroken, but even continues to increase. This is accompanied by an increase in productivity and delivery volumes to Germany.

 

Watermelons are considered the epitome of summer and their sweet flesh refreshes us on hot days. The first seasonal delivery of sustainable watermelons from southern Spain is creating anticipation for the summer of 2022.The constant growing conditions in the solar greenhouses ensure fruit and vegetables of outstanding quality.

The greenhouses are designed to capture sunlight and energy through their translucent structure, while protecting the plants from adverse weather conditions. Thanks to this sustainable and ideal microclimate, it is possible to avoid the use of fossil fuels for heating or lighting the crops protect weather conditions. Thanks to this sustainable and ideal microclimate, there is no need to use fossil fuels for heating or lighting the crops.3 In addition to its intense flavor, this miracle fruit also offers many health benefits: for example, watermelon not only contains vitamins such as A and B9, but is also low in calories. On hot summer days, it provides welcome refreshment with its 92% water content, which, by the way, is low in sodium, fat-free and cholesterol-free.

 

"The start of the watermelon season is something very special every year. This is how we bring our summery, light lifestyle to Germany and other countries. Our watermelons are grown exclusively in solar greenhouses in sunny southern Spain. They impress with their unique quality and long-term sustainability," explains Francisco Góngora, President of HORTIESPAÑA.Watermelons can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen. Whether it's a cool ice cream or refreshing lemonade in the hot midday sun, or a light and hearty watermelon feta salad at a barbecue, watermelon always brings a fruity and fresh twist, and there's something for everyone. Our tangy watermelon smoothie shows just how versatile watermelon can be!

 

Aromatic and exciting: spicy watermelon smoothie

For 4 servings:

• 400 g watermelon
• 2 oranges
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 Lime juiceTabasco
•  stalks of mint Salt and pepper, from the grinder

Preparation

Remove the seeds from the juicy flesh of the watermelon and put it in a blender. Then squeeze the juice from the oranges and add it together with the honey and the plucked mint leaves. Now finely puree everything together and then season well with lime juice, Tabasco, salt and pepper. If necessary, add a little more water. Garnish the glasses with the remaining mint leaves as desired and enjoy.

Tip: The smoothie is best put in the refrigerator for an hour before serving.

 

What is a solar greenhouse?

A solar greenhouse is an enclosed structure covered with plastic sheeting that lets in the sunlight and light that plants need to maintain a temperature during the winter months that is conducive to their development, so that they can carry out photosynthesis. The plants extract nutrients from the CO2 they capture from the air and release huge amounts of oxygen into the atmosphere. Solar greenhouses differ considerably from the production methods used by other types of greenhouses, where heating and lighting systems are mainly powered by fossil fuels, which require up to 30% more energy and are much more polluting.

 

What is not a solar greenhouse?

A solar greenhouse is not a greenhouse covered with photovoltaic panels, which convert solar energy into electrical energy that is used to artificially heat or light the plantations.

  

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