West Side melon shippers hope for a repeat of 2004
West Side melon shippers hope for a repeat of 2004
Melon shippers in the West Side district of California are hoping for a repeat of last season, when shipments eclipsed the 23 million-carton mark.
Jerry Munson, manager of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, said in early June that the board estimateed that 20 million cantaloupes -- in 40-pound cartons -- will be harvested this year in the West Side deal, but conceded that the deal "usually goes over that."
The deal in 2004 came in at 23.5 million cartons. In 2003, the tally was 22.1 million, and in 2002 the total harvest was 22.9 million cantaloupes. The West Side deal covers Bakersfield and points north, but doesn't include the Imperial Valley.
The board is involved in promoting food safety and is entering its fourth year of a trace-back program it implemented that encompasses the field, crew and date of a harvest. As of a half-dozen years ago or so, the advisory board no longer has a marketing arm, but rather it just does grade standards and surveillance.
Turlock Fruit Co. in Turlock, CA, will harvest honeydews in Huron for the second straight year. The harvest in honeydews won't start in Huron until around July 5-10, and the harvest in cantaloupes in Huron is set for July 1-4.
The cantaloupe harvest will move from Huron to Firebaugh around July 15 and run until about Oct. 10. Turlock Fruit's honeydews will be harvested in Huron, Firebaugh and Yuba City, and its cantaloupes will be harvested in Huron and Firebaugh. The company's seven varieties of mixed melons will be harvested in Firebaugh from about July 15 to Sept. 10, and its honeydews in Firebaugh will run from July 10 to Sept. 10.
Turlock Fruit's overall acreage will be about the same this year as last year, said co-owner Steve Smith. Golden honeydews will be new this year for Turlock. "On honeydews, our main emphasis is high sugar, so it eats like a piece of fruit, not a cucumber, Mr. Smith said.
Also new for Turlock will be a throwback of a sort -- heirloom-style cantaloupes. The graphics on the packaging will have an early-1900s look that will harken back to the time of Mr. Smith's grandfather, who was known as "Cantaloupe Smith." The limited-quantity heirloom cantaloupes are high in sugar and have a rib exterior with sutures.
"They have a more intense flavor and are higher in Brix, Mr. Smith said. "The stem remains intact. We cut it from the vine instead of pulling it from the vine.
The company will have some supplies throughout the season to test market response, he said.
Donnie Blanton of Fresno, CA-based Baloian Packing Co. said that the company's honeydews and mixed melons would start on time around July 5. The company grows its melons in Bakersfield and Huron, with Huron finishing the season.
"Everything in Bakersfield looks good for melons, Mr. Blanton told The Produce News June 9. He said that the harvest in the desert areas of Blythe and Brawley would end early this year, so he isn't expecting much overlap. The deal north of the desert will start with light production but not be light for long.
Baloian Packing continues to grow Casaba, Piel de Sapo, Galia, Orange Flesh, Juan Canary, Crenshaw, Sharlyne and Persian melons. Baloian has had the same growing partners for 16 years, Mr. Blanton said.
At Pappas & Co. in Mendota, CA, Sales Manager Rodney Van Bebber said that the company expects to do 2.5 million cartons of cantaloupes and 600,000 cartons of honeydews this year. Both estimates are up considerably from Mr. Bebber's projections coming into the harvest a year ago. The company has focused on increasing its yields, he said.
The harvest should start around July 6-10 and continue until mid-October.
"We've had a cool June and a wet spring, Mr. Van Bebber said. "The front end should have light volume. The light volume may continue for all of June and July, but August and September should be normal and quality should be good, Mr. Van Bebber said.
Pappas & Co.'s state-of-the-art melon cooler handles 25,000 to 30,000 cartons a day. It will sticker its produce again this year: The stickers contain a price look-up number and a bar code. The company has also redesigned its label and box.
Jerry Munson, manager of the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board, said in early June that the board estimateed that 20 million cantaloupes -- in 40-pound cartons -- will be harvested this year in the West Side deal, but conceded that the deal "usually goes over that."
The deal in 2004 came in at 23.5 million cartons. In 2003, the tally was 22.1 million, and in 2002 the total harvest was 22.9 million cantaloupes. The West Side deal covers Bakersfield and points north, but doesn't include the Imperial Valley.
The board is involved in promoting food safety and is entering its fourth year of a trace-back program it implemented that encompasses the field, crew and date of a harvest. As of a half-dozen years ago or so, the advisory board no longer has a marketing arm, but rather it just does grade standards and surveillance.
Turlock Fruit Co. in Turlock, CA, will harvest honeydews in Huron for the second straight year. The harvest in honeydews won't start in Huron until around July 5-10, and the harvest in cantaloupes in Huron is set for July 1-4.
The cantaloupe harvest will move from Huron to Firebaugh around July 15 and run until about Oct. 10. Turlock Fruit's honeydews will be harvested in Huron, Firebaugh and Yuba City, and its cantaloupes will be harvested in Huron and Firebaugh. The company's seven varieties of mixed melons will be harvested in Firebaugh from about July 15 to Sept. 10, and its honeydews in Firebaugh will run from July 10 to Sept. 10.
Turlock Fruit's overall acreage will be about the same this year as last year, said co-owner Steve Smith. Golden honeydews will be new this year for Turlock. "On honeydews, our main emphasis is high sugar, so it eats like a piece of fruit, not a cucumber, Mr. Smith said.
Also new for Turlock will be a throwback of a sort -- heirloom-style cantaloupes. The graphics on the packaging will have an early-1900s look that will harken back to the time of Mr. Smith's grandfather, who was known as "Cantaloupe Smith." The limited-quantity heirloom cantaloupes are high in sugar and have a rib exterior with sutures.
"They have a more intense flavor and are higher in Brix, Mr. Smith said. "The stem remains intact. We cut it from the vine instead of pulling it from the vine.
The company will have some supplies throughout the season to test market response, he said.
Donnie Blanton of Fresno, CA-based Baloian Packing Co. said that the company's honeydews and mixed melons would start on time around July 5. The company grows its melons in Bakersfield and Huron, with Huron finishing the season.
"Everything in Bakersfield looks good for melons, Mr. Blanton told The Produce News June 9. He said that the harvest in the desert areas of Blythe and Brawley would end early this year, so he isn't expecting much overlap. The deal north of the desert will start with light production but not be light for long.
Baloian Packing continues to grow Casaba, Piel de Sapo, Galia, Orange Flesh, Juan Canary, Crenshaw, Sharlyne and Persian melons. Baloian has had the same growing partners for 16 years, Mr. Blanton said.
At Pappas & Co. in Mendota, CA, Sales Manager Rodney Van Bebber said that the company expects to do 2.5 million cartons of cantaloupes and 600,000 cartons of honeydews this year. Both estimates are up considerably from Mr. Bebber's projections coming into the harvest a year ago. The company has focused on increasing its yields, he said.
The harvest should start around July 6-10 and continue until mid-October.
"We've had a cool June and a wet spring, Mr. Van Bebber said. "The front end should have light volume. The light volume may continue for all of June and July, but August and September should be normal and quality should be good, Mr. Van Bebber said.
Pappas & Co.'s state-of-the-art melon cooler handles 25,000 to 30,000 cartons a day. It will sticker its produce again this year: The stickers contain a price look-up number and a bar code. The company has also redesigned its label and box.
