What is up with watermelon and strawberries?

[naughtoj]

Usually at this time of year I am indulging heavily on both of these fruits. The "fruit thread" got me thinking. Strawberries never really came in season here in Phx. I know in past years I would buy big flats of them for, like, 2.99. But every time I go to the store I see crappy ones in those little pints for like 3.99 at the cheapest!! So far, I got one watermelon at 19 cents per pound (not bad, but not great either). I know watermelon usually hits around Memorial Day but I haven't even been SEEING them in the stores other than that one time they were on sale. Anyone notice this at all??? Especially SWerners?

x( x( :-(

 

[Gayle]

There was a sign posted in the produce section of our supermarket that weather conditions in California (excessive rain, maybe?) was causing shortages of certain items. I think strawberries was one of them.

I wanted to make a strawberry rhubarb pie over the weekend since local rhubarb was starting to become available and had to resort using frozen strawberries.

 

[berry99]

I started the fruit thread because of this very problem. All the fruit that I have been looking at in the store is either really expensive or really gross looking. I did buy a little bitty thing of raspberries last night for $3.50. I still can't believe that I did that, but I was desparate. I am not a S Westerner, but I live pretty close (in Colorado). What is up with the fruit???

Karin

 

[toughYrun]

Yep, you can blame the unusual April rain here in CA on the strawberry problem. I'm lucky enough to live where the strawberries are grown and I can see a difference in them this year. Although, at the local stand where I buy them, the price is not any higher than normal...... At least I think $9 for 1/2 flat is normal.

 

[dhcsim]

Just west of Greenfield on Maine there is a produce market. They have the fruit and it looks very good and it is cheap. The same people also own the produce market just west of Meridian on Maine also. HTH

 

[amyg]

Remember how all us CAers were complaining EVERY DAY about the rain?? Now we're spreading our gloom around, via the sad-looking produce!!

Sorry about that. We wouldn't do it if we didn't have to... ;-)

 

[toastythemosty]

The last watermelon I bought, around 2 weeks ago was $8 at Wal Mart. Lucky for me, I grow my own strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. I hope to have my garden going soon too if I get cooperation from my hubby to help out with it, if not, no garden

Charlotte~~

 

[Kathy02]

Normally I grow my own strawberries too. But this year teh dogs have been moved to the area that the strawberries are in and one of them has been peeing on them. Needless to say I won't be eating them this year.
Plus the fact that I'm sure that the dog will also notice them far before I do and eat them as they ripen. He loves strawberries too. Ok, fine, he's a lab, he's a walking garbage can and loves everything edible or not edible.

Kathy

 

[Sunshine 1528]

Oh yeah, don't even go there about the strawberries.

I'm in CA and our business manufactures the boxes that they are stored in. We have just been cranking the last two weeks in the southern part of the state and haven't gotten started in the north yet. Usually we have been busy busy for at least a month and a half or two. But, weather has stopped raining and the sun has been shining. Now we need to keep the heat down to 70 or 80 and we'll be full of strawberries.

Cross your fingers - I really think they will be here very soon.