Cactus Melon is always strong in watermelons
Cactus Melon is always strong in watermelons
nogales, az — Watermelons have been the key offering of Cactus Melon Distributors Inc. since the firm was founded in 1992 by Ramon Murillo Jr.
“I grew up in the watermelon business,” said 56-year-old Murillo. His father worked for Nogales’ best-known watermelon distribution companies.
He distributes “Cactus Melon”-brand Mexican watermelons from October until June. This fall, Murillo had expected to ship in the first week of October but Hermosillo rains backed that up to Oct. 15.
“We start in Hermosillo and ship from there in October and November. From December until March we ship from Jalisco and Colima. In April we go back to Hermosillo,” Murillo said.
Cactus Melon’s mini-watermelon and yellow-flesh volume is small compared to its seedless tonnage. Beyond watermelons, this fall Cactus Melon is shipping hard, spaghetti, butternut and acorn squash as well as “a little honeydew.”
With retail and foodservice customers, “We distribute across the country, depending on the markets,” Murillo said.