With strong demand and lower-than-average volume coming from Central America, prices for imported melons have remained strong in the United States.
Michael Warren, of Central American Produce, says that demand has looked good but the volume of fruit coming in has been lacking.
“So far, the season's been going well,” he says, “but there have been some problems in the growing regions where we get our melons, and that has resulted in volume being off at the moment.”
Warren says they get most of their imported fruit from Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica. The problems with supply there have resulted in high prices for imported fruit.
“The price has been a little high on melons,” he says, “it's been about 15 to 18 dollars per case.”
Marc Dudley, of The Produce Connection, says he's seen prices as high as $20 per case for cantaloupes and $21 per case for honeydew melons.
Both Dudley and Warren agree that, despite volume concerns, the quality of melons coming in has been good.
“The quality is great,” says Dudley, “we get our melons from Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and some from Mexico, and the quality of the fruit has been great.”