South Carolina watermelon shipments got underway in May and North Carolina is joining the watermelon season ramping up this month.
Totaling about 2,500 truckloads in 2021, South Carolina’s red-flesh seedless watermelon crop represents one of the state’s biggest fresh produce crops.
The USDA reported shipments in 2021 of South Carolina red-flesh seedless watermelon beginning in May and ending in August. After minor volume in May, June shipments accounted for 39% of annual volume. July saw peak volume, with about 59% of the annual volume shipped.
In 2021, shipments of South Carolina red-flesh seeded watermelon were active in June and July, with reported shipments of about 33 (40,000 pound) truckloads. Shipments in June accounted for about 80% of 2021 volume.
In the 2021 South Carolina had an estimated watermelon harvested area of about 3,800 acres and production of 1.33 million cwt. The crop yielded $13.4 per cwt, for a total value of $17.75 million.
In North Carolina, the USDA reported that 2021 red-flesh seedless watermelon shipments totaled 4,503 truckloads.
2021 shipments for North Carolina red-flesh seedless watermelons began in June and concluded in October.
The percentage of annual watermelon shipments in 2021 were: June (less than 1%), July (40%), August (54%), September (5%) and October (1%).
North Carolina’s red-flesh seeded watermelon shipments mustered 236 truckloads, with volume reported in July (70% of annual volume) and August (30%).
North Carolina’s harvested watermelon acreage was reported at 9,300 acres in 2021, with the total crop production at 2.5 million cwt valued at $36 million.