High temperatures and wind have affected supplies of watermelons in California. Reduced quantities have, in turn, led to higher-than-usual prices.“We had a hiccup at the start of June when we had high temperatures,” said Jeff Thomson of Thomson International in Bakersfield, California. “The heat hurt the vines, and some melons were damaged with sunburn.” That heat force-ripened a significant portion of melons, and now there's a gap in production. That has made for fewer supplies and higher prices.
“The market is pretty tight right now,” said Thomson. He noted that the market had been a little weaker about a week ago, but has strengthen to the point where prices are now higher than normal. He added that they've seen prices hovering around $0.20 per pound.
Rodney Van Bebber, sales manager at Pappas and Company in Mendota, California, also noted a good market. He said prices were in the $0.18 to $0.20 per pound range, while normal prices are usually about $0.15 per pound. Along with Thomson, Van Bebber said this year's crop has been affected by unfavorable weather.
“I think we've had lighter yields due to wind and inconsistent weather,” said Van Bebber. But he also said that good demand, along with lighter supplies, have led to strong prices.
“Quality has been good, and that's led to good demand,” he said. “When quality is good, consumers likes what they buy, and they buy more.”