The transition on cantaloupes and honeydew melons has begun from northern California to Yuma, Arizona. “Monday was our first harvest on fall cantaloupes and we just finished up northern California watermelons last week and started in Mexico this week as well,” says Daren Van Dyke of Brawley, CA-based Five Crowns.
While there were rains during the first part of the growing season in Yuma, it was early enough in the cantaloupe development that it helped, not hindered, the quality of the fruit. (The fall melon deal can at times be affected by weather and disease.) “We’re seeing a pretty clean crop. We don’t see a lot of disease showing up and a healthy, good quality crop is always better to promote,” says Van Dyke.
Harvest of cantaloupes started this week in Yuma, Arizona.
Even though overall the acreage is down somewhat on melons, because of the quality, Van Dyke thinks it will be a better crop and more fruit will be harvested, making up for the lower acreage. (Though fall cantaloupes will be down a little bit.)
As for demand, it’s as expected--while it’s good, melon demand often softens in the fall when retailers switch merchandising over to fall produce items such as squash and apples.
Pricing to pick up
That’s leaving pricing very snug right now. “It’s a bit lower than what it was last year but it’s coming up,” he says, noting that a variety of factors will impact the melon market, including how much fruit comes in from Mexico. (While Mexican melons are used more often in foodservice than retail, it does impact the market.)
Looking ahead at the Global Produce & Floral Show October 19-21 in Anaheim, California, Five Crowns will be introducing a new melon at its booth, #1844.
The Picasso Melon from Five Crowns.
“A few years ago we introduced a Picasso melon. It’s a proprietary seed variety from a Japanese seed breeder,” says Van Dyke, noting the melon is called a Picasso Melon because it looks like a painted melon. “At the show, we’ll introduce its cousin, the Picasso Sunrise, which is bright orange. It looks different, cuts differently and we’ll have that to offer next fall.”
The melon, which has high Brix levels and a good flavor profile, will have limited production in 2024.
For more information:
Daren Van Dyke
Five Crowns
Tel: +1 (760) 344-1933
[email protected]
www.FiveCrowns.com