"Melon de Cavaillon" recognized as a European PGI

Melon de Cavaillon, the emblem of Provence, has a centuries-old reputation. Its cultivation in the region dates back to 1495, and its name was established thanks to the Cavaillon market and the rise of the railroads in the 19th century. The famous writer Alexandre Dumas himself praised it in exchange for his complete works and an annual rent of 12 melons. This ancestral know-how, handed down from generation to generation, has now been officially recognized by the Indication Géographique Protégée (IGP).

Exceptional production since the 19th century

Grown in historic Provence, in the departments of Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Melon de Cavaillon is a yellow Charentais melon. It is distinguished by its deep orange flesh and high sugar content. Thanks to over 2,800 hours of sunshine a year and a rigorous selection of plots and varieties, it benefits from ideal conditions for incomparable ripeness and taste.

45 producers and 810ha of sustainable cultivation

Production of the PGI Melon de Cavaillon totals 3,150 tonnes, marketed by 10 distributors. It is based on the environmentally-friendly practices of 45 producers over 810ha of cultivation. Drip irrigation optimizes water consumption, crop rotation and the use of organic fertilizers preserve soil characteristics, and the use of phytosanitary treatments and fertilizers is limited and controlled. This model of integrated agriculture guarantees sustainable, responsible production. Source: INAO - Picture: Vaucluse Agricole.

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