By Clint Thompson
Georgia watermelon acreage is expected to increase this year. A key reason why is the current pricing struggles besetting the state’s row crop producers.
Jordan Carter, director of sales and marketing with Leger & Son, Inc. in Cordele, Georgia, provided an outlook for what the industry looks like this year, with plantings expected to conclude this week across the state.
“I think that acreage is going to be up some. I know that we’re up a little bit in our own acreage, and I think some of it has to do with row croppers. They have faced low commodity prices for quite some time. I think they’re transitioning into specialty crops to see if they can recoup some of that money that they lost in row crops,” Carter said.
Row crop growers are also resorting to renting out land for watermelon use as another potential way to make money.
“Land rent is fairly high right now. I’m sure if they can recoup some of that money through their land rent, they’re doing that, too,” Carter said. “I do foresee (acreage) being up. I’m just hoping it’s not way up to where we have too much supply and not enough demand.”
North Florida Acreage
Oversupply could be a concern since Georgia’s increased acreage comes on the heels of North Florida increasing its acres as well, though Carter believes the demand will stay strong.
“North Florida has a lot of fresh, nice ground. I know the acres are up there, just talking with key salesmen, greenhouses and things like that. Acres are up,” Carter said.
“(But) once May hits and it starts getting warm, kids are out of school and there’s something nostalgic about watermelons. People go to the store and start buying watermelons. I don’t have any fears about movement. I think the demand will be there.”