Conditions are ripe for good watermelon movement for the family-owned Jackson Farming Co. “We started the crown cut on seedless watermelons at the Sarasota, FL, farm on Tuesday, May 14. [We] look to have a week of two to three loads a day on seedless and should get into volume around Thursday or Friday, May 23-24,” said Vice President of Operations/Supply Chain Matt Solana. Rodney and Brent Jackson, second-generation members of the family-owned Jackson Farming Co., sample the first watermelons of the 2013 season. (Photo courtesy of Jackson Farming Co.)“On seeded watermelons, we will not start the crown cut until Wednesday, May 22 at the earliest.”

The company spearheads operations from its offices in Fayetteville, NC. Jackson Farming is one of North Carolina’s premiere grower-packer-shippers of quality fruits and vegetables. Founded by Brent and Debbie Jackson, the second generation of Jacksons are actively involved in the business, and the third generation will one day take their places in the family business.

“We grow, pack and ship seedless watermelons, seeded watermelons, seedless yellow meat watermelons, Athena cantaloupes, honeydew melons, Sprite melons, canary melons, strawberries, broccoli, sweet potatoes and pumpkins,” said Solana.

Cooler weather in South Florida affected crop timing for watermelons in 2013.

“Instead of coming off the last week in April, we started two to three weeks late on the first planting,” Solana told The Produce News. “We were fortunate to miss most of the heavy rains that hit down around Lake Okeechobee the last several weeks, so our crop currently looks good in Sarasota albeit late.”

Jackson Farming expects to begin production for crown cut seedless around June 10 with volume starting by June 15 for the Fourth of July build. “At the Autryville, NC, farm, the first planting on seedless watermelons has runners coming off the plastic and currently should be coming off around July 1,” Solana added.

Jackson Farming Co. packs watermelons at its state-of-the-art line. Watermelons come from the fields in plastic bins that are then emptied onto the line. The fruit moves through a chlorinated bath and is checked by the company’s crew to ensure they are of the highest quality.  The watermelons are electronically sized to ensure that customers receive the correct size and weight in each bin.

Watermelons are marketed under the “Jackson Farming Company” label. “The majority of our business is chain store, with Walmart, Food City, Delhaize America, Kroger, Aldi and Lowes to name a few,” Solana stated. Most of the company’s customer base is located in the Mid-Atlantic region.

This season, Jackson Farming is participating in the Delhaize Wounded Warrior Project, which raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members. The project also provides unique, direct programs and services to assist with their needs. “We will begin shipping watermelons in the Wounded Warrior bins starting Friday, May 17 to Delhaize in support of the project and our Wounded Warriors who have given so much of themselves for our freedom,” Solana stated.

Jackson Farming has become a certified grower through its membership in the Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association.