Keith Connell to ship watermelons into late summer
Keith Connell to ship watermelons into late summer
“We’re hoping for a good year — unlike last year” in the watermelon business, said Mike Meyer, a salesman for Keith Connell Inc., based in Stillwell, KS. “No one can afford a year like last year, when all of the growing areas had a late start.”
In early April, he added, “Texas already has a late start this year.” As the West and South come into watermelon production, volumes may again “stack up on the East Coast. We need some time slots” for orderly watermelon marketing, Meyer noted.
Meyer added that the watermelon deal in 2015 is also complicated by the critical water shortage faced by California growers. As of early April, California watermelons had not yet been planted. Water cost considerations might affect choices in California watermelon production.
Danny Connell, who runs Keith Connell’s office in Rio Rico, AZ, expected to start shipping Mexican watermelons in the week of April 6. “Prices will be dropping shortly” with seasonal volume increases after a tight early market.
In early April, Mexican watermelon prices ranged from the high 20s to 30 cents a pound, depending on melon size.
Connell’s Mexican deal is expected to run through May. The firm will begin shipping Georgia watermelons about June 1.
Meyer said his firm expects to ship watermelons from the boot heel of Missouri from July 1 through mid-August, depending upon the weather. “Last year Missouri was two or three weeks late.”
Keith Connell ships Indiana, and then Colorado, melons into the late summer.
