Grower Alliance shipping watermelons until July 4
Grower Alliance shipping watermelons until July 4
An expected decrease in April Mexican watermelon availability will be reflected in relatively conservative prices for April retailer ads, according to Jorge Quintero Jr., the managing partner of Grower Alliance LLC, based in Rio Rico, AZ.
In early April, Quintero indicated that watermelon ads are normally in the range of 16 cents to 18 cents a pound. But promotions in April were going to be more in the range of 22 cents to 24 cents a pound because of lingering production problems that are expected to reduce early-season availability.
In the Rio Rico, AZ conference room of his company is Jorge Quintero, the managing partner of Grower Alliance LLC.As growers were shipping from Guaymas and Obregon, Mexican watermelons were 30 cents a pound in early April. The price was elevated by production problems due to rain in early March. Quintero indicated that he was fortunate that his grower was not facing “hollow heart” at that time, although it was a challenge for some other Guaymas growers. “We’ve had some very nice quality.”
While “the quality around town isn’t all that great, everyone is moving as fast as they can” to clear the market for oncoming watermelons. Generally speaking, problems in “Guaymas might cause those growers to finish a little early,” Quintero said.
Grower Alliance’s watermelon season began with small volumes in mid-March. “That was a little early” by traditional standards, Quintero said.
Growers in the Obregon shipping district expected to ship watermelons through mid-May. Growers in nearby Guaymas expected to ship into June.
The large Hermosillo watermelon deal was to begin in mid-April and run until July 4.
Because of oncoming Hermosillo volume, Quintero anticipates a pricing drop through May.
Grower Alliance expects to be shipping mini-watermelons from April 20 into mid-June.
Grower Alliance has national distribution. The firm ships watermelons in bins and cartons.