Short Melon Supply Expected Throughout June; Garrett Patricio, Daren Van Dyke, and Barry Zwillinger Explain Market Conditions and More

UNITED STATES - Melon supply is extremely short due to unseasonably warm weather and virus propagation in the Southwest desert region. I spoke with several growers across the region to better understand the current market conditions and how retailers can best manage their melon programs in the coming weeks.

Garrett Patricio, Chief Operating Officer at Classic Fruit, explained the root causes of the shortage.

“Warm winter weather in February and March accelerated the growing cycle, in some cases pushing our start date up by nearly two weeks,” he noted. "Persistent warm weather and an uncommon early whitefly population in the desert resulted in weaker plants and poor yields.”

Daren Van Dyke, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Five Crowns Marketing, echoed the complications caused by unseasonably warm weather.

“We experienced the warmest March in history—we started all of our melons the earliest in the Imperial Valley that we ever had. For Five Crowns, due to where we grow right off the Salton Sea, we are typically the earliest domestic fruit. But for us to start harvesting in April is unprecedented,” Daren emphasized. “The warm weather also caused a very unusual amount of bug pressure extremely early. On our corn, we fought worm damage and infestation in March and April; we typically don’t see it until late May. Whitefly and Aphid numbers put pressure on the melon crop and vector certain viruses. That took volume off the market as people fought declining crops.”

Due to these factors, market conditions are significantly impacted by product shortages.

Barry Zwillinger, Co-Founder of Legend Produce, said there is too little supply to call or quote a market price.

“Be prepared for limited supplies on cantaloupe melons for the next couple of weeks,” he advised buyers.

Daren added that halting promotions for the next couple of weeks is advisable.

“Try and keep fruit on the shelves, but don’t add to the pressure of moving more fruit when it simply is not there,” he said. “Push the promotions to later dates!”

This shortage is limited to the Imperial and Yuma Valleys, so normal supplies should resume in a few weeks.

“We ask that you be patient with your supply sources as these shortages are temporary, and as we move into new districts and growing regions, we should see supplies restored by early July,” Garrett concluded.

AndNowUKnow will continue to monitor the situation, so stay tuned!