Grower Alliance LLC shipping watermelons year-round
Grower Alliance LLC shipping watermelons year-round
Rio Rico, AZ — Mexican produce volume for Grower Alliance LLC is rebounding from severe winter shortages toward a normal spring volume, beginning around March 31, according to Jorge Quintero Jr., managing partner.
Until then, Quintero expected to be shipping yellow and white corn, Roma tomatoes and hard squash. Cucumbers and Bell peppers will also be on hand in limited volumes.
“We are receiving watermelons and honeydew all year round,” he added.
Watermelon prices ranged between 50 and 60 cents a pound in mid-January. The industry knows “good” prices for watermelons at the time of year are usually around 22 cents per pound, according to Quintero.
Grower Alliance finished its wintertime mini-watermelon program about Jan. 9.
Broadly speaking, “from now until the end of March, it will be light. I don’t think the prices will make up for the difference” in lost volume to growers, he said. “If you do the math, maybe it’s close. The growers are making money. But I don’t know if they would pick reduced yields and a high return over average yields and average prices. If you have reduced yields, you have less labor costs.”
Quintero noted that produce distributors such as Grower Alliance would prefer consistent supplies to please customers. With short supplies early this year, Grower Alliance was busy filling pre-booked orders. Otherwise, he said, “Our job has been tough — saying ‘No!’ I have not made an outgoing phone call in a month.”
