A couple of weeks into the Florida watermelon season, quality has been looking good, according to the state's growers.
“Quality is excellent, sugars are high and internal quality is really good,” said Jim Barfield, President of the Florida Watermelon Association and grower with Wolf Island in Immokalee, Florida. He credited good weather throughout the growing season and into the first part of harvesting for this year's good quality. So early in the season, though, Barfield noted that it's hard to tell how volume of fruit will play out this year. Demand, especially coming off of a cold winter in northeastern markets, is looking good.
“Demand has been good,” said Barfield. “I think it has to do with weather, and Easter probably has something to do with it as well.” Prices, though not extremely high, have been okay, according to Barfield.
“We started harvesting the last week of March and there will probably be watermelons from Florida into June,” he said. “We've started out really good, and we're happy with the season.”
