By Clint Thompson
A significant uptick in North Florida watermelon acreage over the last two years has increased production substantially, which has led market prices to drop; as was the case this year.
Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, highlighted the situation facing his region’s growers.
“I think to some degree we’re our own worst enemies. The growers are really good growers. They’re going to put a lot of tonnage out. When you go from, let’s say 7,000 acres to 10,000 acres, which is probably close to the case here in North Florida over the last two years, and you take 3,000 acres times 40,000 pounds an acre, that’s a lot more watermelons to squeeze into a narrow window,” Hochmuth said. “I think the sales part of it, until things get warmed up in Baltimore, New York and Boston, they’re not quite ready for watermelons as early as we want them to be ready.”
North Florida harvests are winding down for this year, mostly due to the market not being favorable for producers. Watermelons are time sensitive when they are ready to be harvested. Growers can not wait for market prices to improve to move the crop.
“In the case of fresh market vegetables like watermelons, when they’re ready they’ve got to go. If you can’t get them into the marketplace, there’s no second choice there,” Hochmuth said. “A 3,000-acre increase in a specific region like ours would be significant.”