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and Western types,” says Westside Produce’s Patricio. “Still, others such as Walmart focus exclusively on minimum brix and delivery quality, so as suppliers, we are left with little choice in our plantings.”
The major cantaloupe seed companies and shippers are constantly working to develop varieties that bring the best of all worlds.
“To maintain and hopefully grow the commodity, the future is in the combination of Western type and long shelf-life melons,” says Patricio. “Seed breeders have called these new varieties extended shelf-life types. We have been trialing them in small plots the past couple of years and anticipate these varieties will make up 20 to 30 percent of our produc-
tion this year. At the end of the day, offering consumers, a product we can be proud of [i.e. flavorful, sweet, and aromatic] is most important.”
WATERMELON AND HONEYDEW, OH MY
The Golden State, a top watermelon producer, dominates in honeydew melon.
“Overall melon volumes, so far year-to- date, have been less than previous years,” says Del Monte’s Christou. “However, due to current higher yields, the total volumes for the season could be very similar to last year.”
California produced nearly a quarter of the watermelon in the country in 2017, but virtu- ally all the honeydew melons, according to the California Department of Food & Agricul- ture’s Agricultural Statistics Review 2017-2018.
“Watermelon consumption nationwide continues to increase, topping 16 pounds per capita in recent years,” according to informa- tion taken from the Ag Marketing Resource Center’s 2018 profile of the crop on its website. “The average American consumer consumes about 27 pounds of melons each year. The United States is one of the world’s leading consumers of melons. Cantaloupe consumption was 8.7 pounds, and honeydew was 1.5 pounds in 2011.”
Watermelons are harvested from the Central Valley from mid-May to late October, according to Watermelon Production in Cali- fornia, written by a team of University of California Cooperative Extension advisors, with seedless varieties predominant.
“We will have less cantaloupe volume compared to last season and additional seed- less watermelon acreage,” says Del Mar’s Wright. “Our tentative plan is to have similar volume on both honeydew and mini water- melon this season.”
California, like most of the country, has shifted production in recent years toward seedless watermelon varieties.
“Seedless varieties are increasing in demand, and the share of seedless watermelon in total watermelon shipments in the United States increased from 51 percent in 2003 to nearly 85 percent in 2014,” according to the Ag Marketing Resource Center’s website. “Seedless varieties, typically started as trans- plants rather than from direct seeding, require more intensive management, with the cost differences generally visible at the retail level.”
Another trend in watermelons coming out of the California-Arizona region is the devel- opment of a robust supply of organic melons.
“Organic melons are the fastest growing segment of the melon category but still repre-
sent a relatively small percentage of overall sales,” says Martori. “Our production will be up in all of our offerings this year, with significant increases in our full line of organic melons and conventional seedless and mini watermelons. We are currently the largest grower of organic melons and have 4,000 additional organic acres available for expansion.”
Other grower-shippers also have developed organic programs in response to increasing consumer demand.
“We grow organic mini watermelons, cantaloupes and honeydews,” says Wright. “The program has been growing each season as we have seen a steady increase in demand for organic melons each year. We have grown organic melons for the past four years.”
Production of organic melons appears to have geared up to the point that retailers can count on being able to source reliable supply.
“Organic melons have been on a slower curve than other produce items, likely because of the hard rind and lack of internalization to a melon,” says Westside Produce’s Patricio. “That being said, they are requested on the buy-side, but supply today still outweighs the demand.”
As virtually the only commercial source of honeydews, California producers are working on new and interesting options.
“Besides honeydews, we continue to expand our Delicious Golden Honeydew production, as well as our exclusive Lemon- drop Melon,” says Martori.
Much like cantaloupes, honeydews may be poised for a comeback in both flavor and consumer acceptance.
“We also do honeydew melons and golden honeydew melons,” says Legend’s Zwillinger. “The honeydews were excellent 30 years ago, and then it went downhill. It’s picking up the past few years. The golden honeydews also have good flavor.”
Other large grower-shippers are also working on new melon varieties that will reach markets in the next few years.
“We are currently working on our propri- etary yellow watermelon program and continue to focus on perfecting our [trademarked] MAG melon program, as well,” says Christou.
There is enough ongoing work to improve melon quality that it is worth asking suppliers, what is just around the corner?
“We are growing similar honeydew vari- eties again this season with a few trial varieties that are new to the industry,” says Wright, of Del Mar Farms. “We trial several dozen varieties every season trying to find the latest and greatest for flavor, appearance and shelf life.” pb
70 / JUNE 2019 / PRODUCE BUSINES