US (FL): Weather delays watermelon season, limits volume

Cold weather earlier this year delayed Florida's watermelon crop and will likely lead to fewer supplies. With less volume than in normal years, the Fourth of July holiday may see constrained supplies and higher prices.

“Everybody's late this year,” said Billy Smith, owner of Billy Smith's Watermelons in Florida. “Cold weather has delayed the season by about three weeks.” While Smith noted that, in 22 years, he's never seen a season where harvesting started later than May 18, this year's picking didn't start until June 5. In addition to a later start, volumes have also been lower than what they typically are.

“It's been an unbelievable season because of continuous problems,” said Rick Stauffer of Seminole Produce Distributing. “There were above-average temperatures in the Southern part of the State, then there was a late frost in March, then there was a frost in the Northern part of the State during the planting season that pushed the season back.” He added that the delay will likely mean less fruit for the Fourth of July, but volumes should pick up after the holiday.

“Quality has been iffy, so in order to ship good produce we've needed more fruit than usual,” said Smith. “But the only good thing about this season has been that prices have been higher, because if not for that, we'd be losing a lot.”