Melon, Cantaloupe prices to be higher in June. Blueberries from the southern states are in  peak season.

June will bring higher prices on Athena and Western Cantaloupes as well as Watermelons due to weather challenges including a severe hail storm on 5/22 in Georgia.

Summer Fruit Story

Grapes

The markets are settling down as supplies become steadier on both red and white seedless grapes. There will be two tiers in pricing, one for California fruit and the other on Mexican fruit. Size of the grape is an important thing to keep in mind when thinking about prices. On whites, there’s a definite distinction from extra large, large and medium large. On reds however, both

California and Mexico fruit, due to the mild winter, they never sized up and are mostly large and medium large, with limited supply of extra large.

Cantaloupe

Western cantaloupes are in short supply and as a result, higher prices with

what fruit is still available. Arizona supply is starting and should have enough product ready to ship this week. Still, there’s not enough to cause a significant drop in the market. Georgia cantaloupe season ended just at the season was peaking with an intense hail storm destroying a majority of the crop.

Peaches

South Carolina peaches were limited in supply last week with littleimprovement this week. Supplies should pick up in the next week which may result in prices decreasing. Overall, the crop is off by twenty-five to thirty percent due to the mild winter and depending on how the season goes, we may see limitations like this again throughout the season. California peaches are in good supply and are starting to come in larger sizes. With the additional freight coming from the West, prices may be higher in comparison to other weeks.

Apricots

There’s good volume and a good range of sizes. Look for excellent quality, lots of blush and good sugar content.

Cherries

Last week and this week have proved to be very challenging, not only in getting supplies but with quality as well. All cherries with these early varieties (like Brooks and Tulare) will show some defects such as pitting and bruising on a market that is still strong where demand exceeds supply. Next week shipping should improve as more growers get going with mostly Bing cherries. Quality should vastly improve and increase volume should help bring prices down.

Washington is a little more than two weeks away from starting and it looks like a good size crop as far as volume and the size of the fruit should peak on thebigger sizes like 10.5 row and larger. Growing conditions have been ideal and growers are expecting an exceptional year.

Watermelons

Growing areas in Northern Florida will start this week in good supply,however the pipeline is clean after the holiday, and the market price will remain high. Some growers in Georgia have started this week, but they’ll definitely be in light supply. Look for pricing to remain high on all sizes of watermelons. Quality has been excellent.

Blueberries

Rain last week really affected the supplies out of Georgia and NorthCarolina. Fruit wasn’t able to be picked which caused limited supplies. The weather is anticipated to be better this week, so supplies should get back to better levels. As supplies improve, prices should ease down.

New Jersey expects to start picking this week. Supplies will be limited as they get going.

Nectarines

California nectarines have great color and larger sizes are beginning to become available.

Plums

Red and black plums as well as pluots are available. The fruit is peaking on thesmaller sizes where prices are aggressive, while larger fruit is commanding much higher prices.

Have a fruitful week!