Cool weather has delayed or slowed watermelon shipments from the southern USA. For example, Florida had already shipped 74 loads of seedless watermelon in 40,000 pound units by April 5th of last year. Comparing the same time this year, only 24 loads had shipped. For the 2012 season, Florida had 12,199 loads of seedless and 2,504 loads of seeded watermelons.
Despite a cold spring watermelon shippers are expecing similar volume to a year ago as loadings gradually move northward up the east coast as we get further into the year.
History shows that what Florida gets sent by Mother Nature, tends to follow right on up the east coast with different growing areas. With Florida being up to 10 days later on shipping volume, a similar pattern could follow right on through Georgia, Carolinas, Maryland, etc.
Texas watermelons loadings will be starting anytime in very light volume, with decent volume coming in early May. Last year the Lone Star State shipped 45,205 loads of seedless watermelon, only slighly behind Florida’s 48,797. California shipped 46,174 loads, but it is such a large state with different climates, it ships watermelons throughout the entire season, unlike other states. Georgia continues to lead the nation in watermelon shipments and had 56,976 loads last year. Mexico leads the entire Western Hemisphere with 63,243 loads.
Meanwhile production from Mexico and other southern climates is way ahead of 2012 totals. By April 5, 4,018 loads had crossed from Mexico at Progreso, TX, compared to 2,796 for the same period in 2012, though crossings at Pharr, TX, were down to 833 from 1,271 in 2012.
Florida watermelons – grossing about $2500 to New York City.