Market Minute: Melon supplies good for promotion
Market Minute: Melon supplies good for promotion
Summer may have ended, but there is still time for promoting cantaloupes, honeydews and watermelons. Large fall melon displays can really boost and extend produce sales while other summer items have decreased.
Cantaloupes, honeydews and watermelons out of the California's San Joaquin Valley are seeing moderate demand on a steady market. Even though supplies are starting to taper off, there are still plenty of good-quality melons to promote. The sizes are larger with a limited supply of smaller sized cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Texas watermelons show moderate demand and a steady market.
Melons can generate huge sales volume and profit for the produce departments. Merchandise melons all together in a nice free-standing display or on an end cap. Set up an eye-catching display and add other varieties of melons to the group — Galia, crenshaw, casaba, canary — if your supplier can secure them for you.
Don’t forget to display chunks of melon cups in your refrigerated fresh-cut fruit display. Arrange them with a nice color contrast so customers are attracted to the section. Fresh-cut melon cups will earn incremental gross profit for the department.
Don’t forget to post the proper signage for your customers — no signs, no sales.
Get together with your melon suppliers and plan a nice melon promotion ad.
Ron Pelger is a produce industry adviser and industry writer. He can be contacted at 775/843-2394 or by e-mail at [email protected].
