Watermelon season in the U.S. generally runs from late spring through early fall, with regional variations that extend the availability almost year-round thanks to different growing areas and imports. Watermelons are grown in many parts of the United States, with production concentrated in warm-weather states due to the crop’s need for a long, hot growing season. The top watermelon-producing states in the South and Southwest are Florida, Texas, and Georgia, with Florida leading the nation by a significant margin. California is also a major producer, though it is typically classified as part of the West rather than the South or Southwest.
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Watermelon season in the U.S. generally runs from late spring through early fall, with regional variations that extend the availability almost year-round thanks to different growing areas and imports. Watermelons are grown in many parts of the United States, with production concentrated in warm-weather states due to the crop’s need for a long, hot growing season. The top watermelon-producing states in the South and Southwest are Florida, Texas, and Georgia, with Florida leading the nation by a significant margin. California is also a major producer, though it is typically classified as part of the West rather than the South or Southwest.
Florida is the largest producer of early-season melons with early harvest beginning in April and ending in July (earliest harvest). According to USDA data, last week there was a shortage of reefer capacity for loads to Boston and New York from the Central and South Florida regions.
Fun facts:
- Watermelon is made up of about 92% water, making it excellent for hydration.
- It is one of the few foods classified as both a fruit and a vegetable.
- There are more than 1,200 varieties of watermelon grown worldwide.
Load-to-Truck Ratio
Reefer load post volumes decreased by 25% last week, offsetting the previous week’s surge before Memorial Day. Simultaneously, reefer equipment posts rose by 5% week-over-week. Consequently, the reefer load-to-truck ratio (LTR) fell by 31% to 10.65, reaching its second-highest Week 21 value in nine years.
Spot rates
Last week, reefer spot rates experienced the largest decline of the three equipment types, falling by $0.03/mile after the Roadcheck Week-induced capacity tightening of the previous week. Currently at $2.02 per mile, reefer spot rates are up $0.02/mile compared to last year but down $0.04/mile from 2023.
