Watermelon

Watermelon

Watermelon

Commodity Overview

Watermelon is a summertime favorite, but it can bring sales to your store throughout the year. Place watermelon near the front of the store during the summer, especially around the summertime holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

PLUs

4031 regular
4032 regular, seedless
4340 yellow
4341 yellow, seedless
3308 orange
3281 orange, seedless
3421 mini seedless (3-7 lbs.)
Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.
USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

  • Watermelon is a summertime favorite, but it also offers up a bunch of health benefits. Watermelon is a good source of vitamin A, which is essential for keeping eyes and skin healthy. It contains vitamin C, which can improve immune-system health and fight cancer. Watermelon’s red color is caused by lycopene, a carotenoid pigment that researchers believe is a powerful antioxidant that helps fight cancer and other diseases. Compounds in watermelon may contribute to cardiovascular health.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for watermelons: fat-free, saturated fat-free, very low sodium, cholesterol-free, a good source of vitamin A and high in vitamin C.

Sales Strategies

  • Cross-merchandise watermelon with berries, fruit salad ingredients, bagged salad and picnic baskets.
  • Watermelon is available year-round with peak season in the summer months. Create an appetite for watermelon by promoting it throughout the year.
  • Fall: Peak watermelon season is winding down, but keep it in consumers’ minds by including fresh-cut options in back-to-school promotions. Add cubed watermelon to party trays for fall football tailgates.
  • Winter: Include watermelon in holiday promotions as an addition to fruit salads.
  • Spring: Promote watermelon as a sweet addition to healthy green salads. Include watermelon in Mother’s Day and Easter promotions as a great addition to a holiday brunch.
  • Summer: Summer is when watermelon shines. Include it in summer holiday promotions. Consider a tent or truckload sale to move watermelon and other items near the summer holidays. Make watermelon a centerpiece of the sale.
  • Offer samples of watermelon, especially early in the season, to create an appetite for watermelon.

Dynamic Displays

  • Not everyone wants a huge watermelon. Offer plenty of options for consumers, including different sizes, both red and yellow varieties, and fresh-cut options.
  • Brace the bottom of your watermelon display to avoid a watermelon avalanche.
  • During peak season, extend your watermelon display into the aisles and outside with graphic bins full of the summertime treat.
  • Place watermelon near the front of the store during the summer, especially around the summertime holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day.

Food Service

  • Watermelon does not cook well, so serve it chilled and raw.
  • Watermelon cubes can be frozen and used as ice cubes in drinks.
  • Add watermelon to smoothies to create a tasty treat.
  • Watermelon has a high water content so refrain from chopping it too fine or it will disintegrate.
  • Include watermelon in salads and salad bars.
  • Watermelon cubes or slices are a great addition to a breakfast bar.
  • Use a thin slice of watermelon as a plate garnish.
  • Use a hollowed out watermelon shell as a basket for a centerpiece or as a serving dish.

In the Backroom

Shipping
45,000-lb. bulk 1,050-lb. bins 85-lb. cartons, various counts 65-lb. cartons (seedless) 35-lb. cartons (mickey lee) 24-, 30-, and 36-inch bins RPC – not available

Grades
United States U.S. fancy U.S. No. 1 U.S. No. 2

Handling
Temperature: 50 to 60 F, 10 to 15.6 C. At 50 F, 10 C or lower, watermelons lose color. At 60 F, 15.6 C or higher they decay. Relative humidity: 90% Mist: no Typical shelf life: 14 to 21 days Ethylene-sensitive (Do not store or transport with ethylene-producing commodities.) Susceptible to chilling injury (Damage sometimes is not apparent until produce is returned to a higher temperature. At temperatures of 32-50 F, 0-10 C, watermelons are subject to chill injury.) After one week at 32 F, 0 C, they will develop an off-flavor and become pitted. For about a week, holding watermelons at room temperature can improve flavor and coloring, and can be held for up to three weeks at 50 to 60 F, 10 to 15.6 C, but it is best to sell quickly. When stored at higher temperatures, color will deepen. Once picked, watermelon sugar content does not increase.

Equivalents

20-lb. melon = about 138 ½-inch sliced wedges 20-lb. melon = about 90 ¾-inch sliced wedges 30-lb. melon = about 190 ½-inch sliced wedges

rolandmarketing-pmg

Roland Marketing Inc

BCA Award
Overview (8)   (0)   (13)  
Business Type:
Broker, Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Fridley, 55432 Minnesota
Berries:
Blueberries, Cranberries, Strawberries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Oranges
Deciduous Fruit:
Apples, Asian Pears, Grapes, Pears
Melons:
Cantaloupe
mcmelon-pmg

McMelon Inc HQ

BCA Award
Overview (3)   (0)   (1)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper
Location HQ:
Lake Wales, 33898 Florida
Melons:
Watermelon
Cooking Vegetables:
Potatoes
Wada Farms Marketing Group 2018 500x500

Wada Farms Marketing Group LLC HQ

BCA Award
Overview (23)   (0)   (16)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Idaho Falls, 83404 Idaho
Organic Produce:
Organic Onions, Bulb, Organic Potatoes, Organic Sweet Potatoes
Melons:
Seedless Red Watermelon, Seeded Red Watermelon
Cooking Vegetables:
White Onions, Yellow Onions, Red Onions, Purple Potatoes, Red Potatoes
fivecrownsmarketing2

Five Crowns Marketing HQ

BCA Award
Overview (14)   (0)   (9)  
Business Type:
Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Brawley, 92227 California
Melons:
Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon
Tropical Fruit:
Mangoes
Cooking Vegetables:
Asparagus, Cauliflower, Corn
Salad Vegetables:
Broccoli
jacksonfarming

Jackson Farming Company

BCA Award
Overview (12)   (0)   (3)  
Business Type:
Broker, Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Autryville, 28318 North Carolina
Berries:
Strawberries
Melons:
Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon
Cooking Vegetables:
Greens, Pumpkins, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter, Sweet Potatoes
Salad Vegetables:
Broccoli
darrigo-mass2

D'Arrigo Bros Co of Massachusetts

BCA Award
Overview (6)   (0)   (8)  
Business Type:
Broker
Location HQ:
Chelsea, 02150 Massachusetts
Deciduous Fruit:
Grapes
Melons:
Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon
Cooking Vegetables:
Cauliflower
Salad Vegetables:
Broccoli, Celery, Lettuce, Tomatoes
pdgproduce-pmg

P D G Produce Inc

BCA Award
Overview (6)   (0)   (8)  
Business Type:
Broker, Shipper, Retailer
Location HQ:
Nogales, 85628 Arizona
Deciduous Fruit:
Grapes
Melons:
Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon
Cooking Vegetables:
Eggplant, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter
Salad Vegetables:
Peppers, Bell, Cucumbers, Tomatoes
Williams Farms_Logo~ 2

Williams Farms LLC HQ

BCA Award
Overview (2)   (0)   (2)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Marion, 14505 New York
Deciduous Fruit:
Apples
Cooking Vegetables:
Cabbage, Onions, Bulb, Potatoes
Organic Produce:
Organic Potatoes
Melons:
Seedless Red Watermelon, Seeded Red Watermelon
Wiggins_Wholesale_Inc_Logo1024_1_1

Wiggins Wholesale, Inc

BCA Award
Overview (4)   (0)   (13)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Caldwell, 77836 Texas
Melons:
Watermelon
richard_e_ryan

Richard E Ryan & Associates Ltd

BCA Award
Overview (7)   (0)   (4)  
Business Type:
Broker
Location HQ:
Toronto, M8Y 1H8 Ontario
Berries:
Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Lemons, Oranges
Deciduous Fruit:
Apples, Figs, Grapes








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