An abundance of cantaloupes in California is too much for the demand on the market. The imbalance has caused what had already been low cantaloupe prices to go lower in the month of August.“The market is very cheap,” said Don Smith with the Turlock Fruit Company in Turlock, California. “The crops are heavy and demand is not in great shape.” On August 16, prices for a half-carton of 9s from California's San Joaquin Valley were between $4.00 and $6.50, and prices for a carton of 15s were between $3.50 and $5.00. Prices at the start of the month were about a dollar higher than they are now.
“The market hasn't been in great shape since we started, but it took a turn about 10 days ago,” noted Smith. He believes there's simply too much fruit for what the market can accommodate, and, unlike Honeydews, Asian buyers don't want cantaloupes, so the export market is not an option.
“There's also a lot of homegrown product throughout the country, so a lot of regions have their own supplies,” added Smith. “Both production and quality of fruit are good, the trouble we have just has to do with the market.”
For more information:
Don Smith
Turlock Fruit Company
+1 209 634 7207