Latest News From Cantaloupe

Mexican plant connected to salmonella outbreak tests negative for pathogen
Mexican plant connected to salmonella outbreak tests negative for pathogen

While Mexican health officials temporarily closed the processing plant, they said its initial tests came back negative and another round of testing will be performed next month.

Law firm files class action lawsuit in Canada following salmonella outbreak in cantaloupes
Law firm files class action lawsuit in Canada following salmonella outbreak in cantaloupes

The law firm said it filed the class action lawsuit in British Columbia on behalf of all persons of Canada, excluding Québec, who purchased or became ill from consuming cantaloupes involved in the salmonella outbreak.

Another lawsuit filed in salmonella outbreak in cantaloupes
Another lawsuit filed in salmonella outbreak in cantaloupes

As of Dec. 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the salmonella outbreak traced to fresh-cut and whole cantaloupe sickened more than 302 people in 42 states.

Cases rise as salmonella outbreak continues
Cases rise as salmonella outbreak continues

The FDA has added Cut Fruit Express packages of fresh fruit containing cantaloupe and foodservice packages of cantaloupe chunks and fruit mixes with cantaloupe to a recall.

Fyffes melon subsidiary in Honduras receives social responsibility recognition
Fyffes melon subsidiary in Honduras receives social responsibility recognition

The Socially Responsible Company Seal was awarded for the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and the well-being of its workers and their communities.

Imported whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe part of FDA recall
Imported whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe part of FDA recall

A salmonella outbreak in 34 states that has sickened 117 people and caused two deaths has been traced to one grower in Mexico.

Cantaloupe growers stitch together a steady supply through summer
Cantaloupe growers stitch together a steady supply through summer

Growers are managing delayed and irregular cantaloupe production out of Yuma, the Imperial Valley and into the Westside, but anticipate the production will normalize as the deal shifts in July, August and September.

Ripe or not? Solving the perfect melon puzzle
Ripe or not? Solving the perfect melon puzzle

Experts have shared their failsafe methods for selecting the perfect watermelon and new variety cantaloupe this summer.

Fresh Trends 2023: What surveyed consumers said about melon consumption
Fresh Trends 2023: What surveyed consumers said about melon consumption

Twenty-eight percent of consumers polled in Fresh Trends 2023 said they purchased cantaloupes in the past year.

California cantaloupe growers expect a delayed but promotable season
California cantaloupe growers expect a delayed but promotable season

Recent heavy rainfall was a godsend to The Golden State’s cantaloupe producers, delaying planting but also providing a welcome break from growing under drought restrictions for this year’s crop.

Later start but good quality expected for California tree fruit, melons
Later start but good quality expected for California tree fruit, melons

California is expected have plenty of good-quality tree fruit, melons and other commodities this summer, though some items might get off to a later start than usual, and early volume on others may be off a bit.

Melon shippers collaborating to offer year-round supplies
Melon shippers collaborating to offer year-round supplies

The strategic marketing alliance will provide cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon and mixed melons to retail, foodservice and fresh-cut customers.

Morning Kiss Organic sees expanded melon program
Morning Kiss Organic sees expanded melon program

Morning Kiss Organic has an expanded summer lineup of mini watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydew melons. 

Liberty Fruit Co. recalls processed cantaloupe for possible health risk
Liberty Fruit Co. recalls processed cantaloupe for possible health risk

Kansas City, Mo.-based Liberty Fruit Company, Inc. is recalling certain packages containing cantaloupe because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Eastern cantaloupe campaign gains social media momentum
Eastern cantaloupe campaign gains social media momentum

Two cantaloupes may have the same DNA, but their growing climate can change the flavor — a concept one organization is promoting in a campaign through peak cantaloupe season.

Prices around the nation: Cantaloupe
Prices around the nation: Cantaloupe

Prices for cantaloupe around the nation ranged from $1.48 to $4.99 each on June 16, according to U.S. Marketing Services.

Stable volume expected for Classic Fruit Co.
Stable volume expected for Classic Fruit Co.

Stable acreage for conventionally grown cantaloupe and honeydew is planned for Fresno, Calif.-based Classic Fruit Co. Inc., said Tom Conrado, vice president of sales and business development for the company.

Westside Produce looks for stable melon volumes
Westside Produce looks for stable melon volumes

Overall cantaloupe and honeydew volume for Firebaugh, Calif.-based Westside Produce should be similar to recent years, said Garrett Patricio, president of the company.

California melon shipments under pressure but new year brings new expectations
California melon shipments under pressure but new year brings new expectations

California melon shipments have come under pressure in recent years, with lower trending volume reported in the past five years.

Cantaloupe
The Packer seeks input from California Westside melon suppliers

The Packer is seeking input from melon suppliers for The Packer’s June 7 Westside Melon section. 

This melon’s got moxy, says Del Monte Fresh Produce
This melon’s got moxy, says Del Monte Fresh Produce

Miami-based Del Monte Fresh Produce North America Inc is relaunching its MAG.nificent melon, which is supposed to take the guesswork out of purchasing cantaloupes.

Fresh Farms adds value-added items
Fresh Farms adds value-added items

Fresh Farms offers cucumbers, soft squash and cantaloupes. Fresh Farms is adding new items every week.

Classic Fruit achieves Rainforest Alliance certification

Deerfield Beach, Fla.-based Classic Fruit Co.’s Guatemalan farm, Classic Guatemala, has earned the Rainforest Alliance certification.

BASF acquires melon breeder ASL

BASF has formally agreed to acquire ASL, one of the most innovative melon breeding companies in the world, to continue expanding its position as a preferred partner in the fruit and vegetable value chain.

Photos: Cantaloupe sets new world record at more than 70 pounds
Photos: Cantaloupe sets new world record at more than 70 pounds

Doug English, the brother of The Packer’s national accounts manager Gary English, set a new record recently for the world’s largest cantaloupe.

Meijer recalls fresh-cut, whole cantaloupe after salmonella test
Meijer recalls fresh-cut, whole cantaloupe after salmonella test

Meijer is recalling whole and fresh-cut cantaloupe products after a sampling program in Michigan detected salmonella.

Ayco Farms prepares for offshore melon season

Ayco Farms Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., is starting its 15th offshore melon season in November.

Brian Faseler returns to Legend Produce in sales

Melon grower and marketer Legend Produce, Scottsdale, Ariz., has hired Brian Faseler as a sales associate.

California's specialty melon sales pick up
California's specialty melon sales pick up

Sales of specialty melons appear to be headed back to normal after stumbling a bit at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

California's westside cantaloupe volume similar to last year
California's westside cantaloupe volume similar to last year

California’s 2020 cantaloupe volume should be similar to last year’s 16 million 40-pound cartons, said JD Allen, manager of the Dinuba-based California Melon Research Board.

California melon marketer expands exports with AgroFresh

Blythe, Calif.-based Fisher Ranch has expanded melon exports by extending the commodity’s storage window with the use of SmartFresh.

Marketscope — Fruit f.o.b.s as of June 1

This information, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, shows week-by-week shipments and f.o.b.s for commodities from shipments for the fresh market.

Mangoes see major interest on PMG
Mangoes see major interest on PMG

Haitian mangoes maintained their lead on The Packer's PMG the week of May 11, and the overall mango category climbed from No. 4 to No. 2.

Companies help out during COVID-19 pandemic
Companies help out during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect industry companies in different ways, and they are responding with everything from donations to frontline employees to rolling out plans to keep employees safe.

Cantaloupes, honeydews plentiful this spring, summer
Cantaloupes, honeydews plentiful this spring, summer

Cantaloupes and honeydews may not rank as high on the popularity list as watermelons, but they are consumer favorites, and grower-shippers say there should be plenty of them available this spring and summer.

Salmonella outbreak from Tailor Cut Produce fruit over
Salmonella outbreak from Tailor Cut Produce fruit over

An outbreak of Salmonella Javiana traced to a fresh-cut fruit salad from Tailor Cut Produce is over, according to agencies investigating the outbreak

Veg-Fresh opens La Quinta, Calif., office
Veg-Fresh opens La Quinta, Calif., office

Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., has opened a sales office in La Quinta, Calif., to handle an expanding citrus and melon. Program

Fyffes promotes sustainability with recycled CHEP pallets

Fyffes has converted all of its melon shipments to include the use of recycled and repurposed wooden pallets from CHEP.

Salmonella cases in Tailor Cut Produce fruit mix recall rise
Salmonella cases in Tailor Cut Produce fruit mix recall rise

The number of illnesses linked to a salmonella outbreak traced to fresh-cut fruit from Tailor Cut Produce has almost tripled in less than a month.

Tailor Cut recalls fresh-cut fruit linked to salmonella
Tailor Cut recalls fresh-cut fruit linked to salmonella

Tailor Cut Produce has recalled its fresh-cut Fruit Luau, a mix of honeydew, cantaloupe and pineapple, after the Food and Drug Administration linked it to a salmonella outbreak.

Colorado specialty crops receive grants for research

The Colorado fruit and vegetable industry will benefit from $745,000 in resarch projects through the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s 2019 Specialty Crops Program.

Retail Price Report — Cantaloupes
Retail Price Report — Cantaloupes

Cantaloupes averaged $1.97 each around the U.S. the week ending Aug. 23, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Retail Report for Specialty Crops, which looks at on-ad prices.

What’s On Ad – Cantaloupes, Peaches, Plums
What’s On Ad – Cantaloupes, Peaches, Plums

More than 14,000 stores promoted cantaloupes the week ended Aug. 9.

What's On Ad — Peaches, cantaloupes surpass cherries for top spot
What's On Ad — Peaches, cantaloupes surpass cherries for top spot

Peaches have surpassed cherries as the most popular produce item on ad, with more than 16,700 stores putting the seasonal sweet on ad for the week ended Aug. 2.

Amelia Freidline
Salt on the watermelon

A couple of weeks ago, somebody in a Facebook group I’m part of shared an article on the proper (and Southern) way to eat watermelon — with salt.

Cool weather sets back California Westside melon deal start
Cool weather sets back California Westside melon deal start

Melons like it hot, but the lack of high temperatures in California’s Central Valley this spring will probably mean a later start than usual to the Westside cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew season.

Carolina growers expecting a good deal this year
Carolina growers expecting a good deal this year

Spring typically brings a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables from the Carolinas, and this year is no exception, suppliers and marketers say.

FDA seeking source of imported melons in salmonella outbreak
FDA seeking source of imported melons in salmonella outbreak

The number of people with salmonella linked to fresh-cut melons shipped by Caito Foods has increased, and the Food and Drug Administration has released a list of hundreds of retail outlets that received the products.

Dan Andrews Farms adds melon varieties
Dan Andrews Farms adds melon varieties

Dan Andrews Farms LLC, Bakersfield, Calif., is adding two varieties to its melon offerings this season, said owner Danny Andrews.

File photo
Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew purchases

The likelihood of a watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew purchase based on gender and ethnicity.