Melon supplies transition back to domestic growing regions
Domestic supplies of honeydew and cantaloupe melons are starting to build.
“There are three separate areas where melons would be coming from right now,” says Justin Bootz with Legend Produce LLC in Scottsdale, AZ.
Offshore melons are still trickling in, though less so on the West Coast. “Most offshore importers are going to be done with offshore cantaloupes here in the West probably this week,” he says. “On the East Coast, they might be a week longer with supplies from Central America. Supplies are pretty decent on both coasts but heavier on the East.”
Historically high freight rates challenge growers/shippers
As many growers coast to coast know, freight rates have spiked for produce shipments.
“Transportation costs have drastically impacted the celery market. There is a lot of pressure for lower FOB prices to make up for exorbitant freight costs,” says John Chobanian, commodity account manager with Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms.
Over in Scottsdale, AZ, Justin Bootz of Legend Produce LLC adds that there is a struggle currently to find trucks, even though rates are at all-time highs. “Two years ago in the time before COVID-19, you could find a truck going to the East Coast for maybe $6,000-$6,500. Now that same truck probably costs $10,000-$11,000,” says Bootz.
Logistics look to be largely hampering the current supplies of imported melons.
Right now, supplies of honeydew and cantaloupe melons are coming in from Guatemala and Honduras and smaller volumes are being shipped. “Some rains and tropical storms during the first growing cycle in Central America impacted volumes. Most growers have probably seen lower yields maybe 70-80 percent of original projections,” says Justin Bootz with Legend Produce LLC in Scottsdale, AZ. “Since the beginning of the offshore deal in early to mid December, there’s been limited product. The least amount of product I’ve seen in my time here, over six years.”