Despite typical troubles for individual growers, the Texas and Georgia watermelon crop appears to be performing on time and without many problems.
Dr. Larry Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulturist, Uvalde. Stein said the Texas watermelon crop was “looking good” and has avoided many of the disease problems that have plagued other crops this year.
“Watermelons have been one of the better crops we have around the Lower Rio Grande Valley,” said Stein. “Other crops have had to deal with black rot and other disease issues, but watermelons have done well as the weather turned drier.”
Texas is the top producer of watermelons in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service, and represent the No. 1 vegetable crop in Texas, Stein said. The statewide watermelon crop in 2016 was worth more than $75 million, according to AgriLife Extension annual reports. That is down 25 percent from more than $100 million in 2014.
Texas isn't the only state seeing healthy yields though, Southern Georgia is too according to Marks Melon Patch's owner Mark Daniel. He said said that with the mild spring, he and his crew started picking as early as May. He's been on the lookout for fungal diseases that could hurt his melons.
"We try to do a good job on preventative measures to keep that in check because watermelons are highly susceptible to diseases," explained Daniel.
But for the most part, his yields were looking good for those watermelon lovers. Daniel said his prices are the same as last year, some range between $7 to $8 at Mark's Melon Patch. Farmers are on track to produce 22,000 acres.
sources: myplainview.com, walb.com