MELON CULTIVATION
At the worldwide level, watermelon cultivation covers approximately 300,000 hectares. The number-one producer of melons is Asia, with almost 60% of the world's production, more than 12 million tons. Europe is in second place with 20%, with the world's highest yields.
The major European producers are Spain, Romania, France and Italy. Here melon crops cover approximately 19,500 hectares (11% in protected crops and the rest in fields), providing a production of approximately 415,000 tons. The most important regions for this production are Sicily, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Latium.
The melons grown in Italy may be essentially divided into three groups:
1) Cantaloupensis: the so-called Cantaloupe, including fruits of average size with a smooth surface, which may be stored only briefly and include varieties such as Charentais. 2) Inodorus: which may be stored longer, at times beyond winter, hence the nickname of "winter melons". 3) Reticulatus: this group includes varieties such as Topmark, Stratos and Chando. The fruit is medium-sized and has a surface covered with a clear grid, thus their denomination as "netted" melons. Since many of these crops come from the United States, they are also known as American melons.

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