California’s 2020 cantaloupe volume should be similar to last year’s 16 million 40-pound cartons, said JD Allen, manager of the Dinuba-based California Melon Research Board.
Honeydew volume should mirror 2019’s 7.6 million 30-pound cartons.
California growers are expected to ship about 529 million pounds of watermelons in 2020, up from 450 million pounds last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Turlock Fruit Co. Inc., Turlock, Calif., should have all of its melons, including cantaloupes and honeydews, ready by the Fourth of July, said Steve Smith, co-owner.
“We think we’ve had weather conducive for an early start,” he said the third week of May.
He expected cantaloupes and the company’s proprietary Orangedew melons to get underway by June 25, with honeydews starting by July 1.
It was too early to offer an accurate prediction of size and quality, but he seemed optimistic.
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