by John Groh, The Produce News
Hapco Farms is looking forward to the start of its domestic watermelon deal, with product from south Florida expected to begin shipping in late April.
Raquel Mello, who is in watermelon sales for the Riverhead, NY-based company, said that Florida melons have gotten off to a slow start this year due to heavy rainfall in the earlier part of the year. Hapco is currently shipping Mexican and offshore melons.
“Our domestic melon program will run from late April through Labor Day, and we anticipate a good crop this year that is plentiful for all major holidays,” Mello said.
Production from central and northern Florida is expected to pick up in May, resulting in a good amount of fruit on the market, she said. The company distributes fruit — both seeded and seedless — throughout the East Coast, with particular emphasis on the Northeast.
Mello said Hapco stands out as a watermelon shipper because it ships from 800 acres of watermelons and maintains strong grower relationships, enabling it to deliver fruit for the full summer season — Memorial Day to Labor Day — without anticipated gaps or shortages. Product is harvested daily and shipped the same day as it is packed.
“And we not only supply the watermelon, but we also work with retailers on packaging,” Mello said. “We offer private label graphic bins that can hold 700 pounds of watermelon, making it a turnkey buy for retailers.”
Hapco Farms has been shipping watermelons for over 25 years. Each year it ships more than 5 million melons, and it has in-house inspectors on site to ensure that quality standards are maintained throughout the process.
Source: The Produce News