It’s Time for Months of Melon Magic

Last week, a team from OGC headed down to California’s Imperial Valley to wander through melon fields, chat with growers and get a taste of first-of-the-season fruit. Temperatures have been swinging dramatically in the desert this spring, with unusually hot and cold days. That means a few varieties are lagging behind schedule, but the melons they tasted already have delicious flavors and tempting textures. OGC’s melon buyer Rachel Pienovi expects that trend to continue. Lots of specialty melon varieties will come from the region in the next few weeks. 

Melon harvest in the desert will last until the end of June, but California’s Central Valley will start harvesting in the middle of the month. In contrast to the desert, the weather there has been better than usual for the melons, and OGC should start seeing fruit from the southern Central Valley by mid-June.  

“The dry, arid climates of California grow great melons because growers can carefully calibrate the irrigation, so the fruit has great texture and optimal sweetness, and there’s plenty of the heat melon plants love,” explained Rachel.  

Just after the 4th of July, when temperatures are solidly summery, melon harvest starts in the Northwest and will keep going into September. Once the Northwest season really gets going, produce departments will be rich in specialty and classic melons known for their sweetness and depth of flavor. The dry heat of Eastern Washington and Oregon lets growers control irrigation to dial in taste and texture, much like in California’s growing regions, and thoughtful variety selection means OGC sees some delicious melons from west of the Cascade Mountains too.  

The outlook for Ladybug Brand Black Seedless Watermelon bins is particularly sunny this year. The program has already gotten started in the desert, so it’s not too early to talk to your Account Representative about bringing bins in. With these gorgeous and sweet melons coming from the Central Valley and later from the Northwest too, your department will have consistent supply all season long.  

Dry farmed melons will start in early August, and this year, OGC is focusing on three deeply flavorful varieties: Charentais, Piel de Sapo and Sugar Cube.  

Overall, this melon season is shaping up to be a delicious one.  

To capture all the magic of melon season, OGC’s Melon Toolkit has detailed information about each delicious and unique variety, and don’t miss the availability chart to know when to expect them.