Cantaloupe and honeydew melons face critical short-term supply shortage

Markon Cooperative BB #:123315 released this melon update June 20, 2026:

Growers are experiencing critically short supplies of cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Markon First Crop (MFC) Cantaloupe and MFC Honeydew are limited.

Cantaloupe

Arizona-California Desert Region

• A warm winter increased spring insect pressure, which has weakened plants
• Cantaloupe harvesting will remain minimal for the next 7-10 days
• Large sizes, nine- and jumbo nine-counts, are extremely limited
• 15-count and smaller sizes are still available but will continue to tighten into next week
• Prices will escalate until supply meets demand in July

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvests are expected to start the week of June 22
• Production will gradually increase through the week of June 29
• Large sizes, nine- and jumbo nine-counts, will be available

Honeydew

Mexico

• Supplies are sporadic with minimal availability
• Volume will fall once California growers transition to the San Joaquin Valley
• Overall, this market is lower than domestic prices

Arizona-California Desert Region

• While overall honeydew supplies are more plentiful than cantaloupes, volume will decline next week
• Five- and jumbo five-count sizes are scarce, but six- and eight-count sizes are slightly more available
• Honeydew fields were less affected than cantaloupe as the fields are farther away from the insect hotspots
• Markets will climb until yields increase in July

San Joaquin Valley, California

• Harvesting is on track to begin after Independence Day
• No supply issues are predicted once the San Joaquin Valley season begins

Please contact your Markon Account Manager for more information.