Watermelons...Yum

[Mark @ Everlast]

If they were overripe, that happened in the field. I doubt it happened in the store. Watermelons, unlike cantaloupe/muskmelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. The inner flesh will typically start to decay if they are old.

 

[Bird]

I just got back from Walmart and noticed their price on watermelons is currently $3.88 each.

 

[Bird]

I just got back from Walmart and noticed their price on watermelons is currently $3.88 each.

Maybe my nearest Walmart overstocked for the holidays. Those $3.88 watermelons are now $2.50 each and I just sampled the one I bought; delicious.

 

[jinman]

Bird, I got my corn for my 4th cookout from Target again this year for 10 ears for $1. They had a 50 per customer limit, so I took my grandson and we bought 100 ears. On the 2nd of July, while in the Bowie Walmart to buy some nylon twine just before the 4th, I noticed they also had the 10 for $1 price.

I noticed that Kroger was matching the Walmart price of $3.88 each for watermelons before and just after the 4th. I wonder if they will now drop their prices to $2.50? If I'm the farmer selling them the melons at those prices, I'm working pretty hard for not much money. Our $3.88 melons were sure good after we iced them down, so there is no quality loss there.

I have my local fruitstand that sells melons, but she puts different prices on melons according to size. I've seen them anywhere from $3 to $7 each for the larger ones. I don't think she sells a lot of melons when Walmart is just up the road a half-mile and is selling them as cheaply as they do.

 

[Bird]

Jim, I don't know whether Walmart has a limit on the corn. If so, it wasn't shown on the sign. I only wanted 20 and the lady who was putting out more of it even went in the back of the store and got a cardboard box for me to put them in.

I know there are some economic advantages for large operations, but I really don't know how farmers can produce and sell corn, watermelons, and a number of other things so cheaply and stay in business.

 

[charlz]

I know there are some economic advantages for large operations, but I really don't know how farmers can produce and sell corn, watermelons, and a number of other things so cheaply and stay in business.

Well, don't forget about the concept of 'loss leader' on the part of the stores. They sell stuff at/below cost just to get you in the door in hopes you will buy other, normally priced, items while you are there.

 

[brin]

Also don't forget about Deflation !

 

[jinman]

Well, don't forget about the concept of 'loss leader' on the part of the stores. They sell stuff at/below cost just to get you in the door in hopes you will buy other, normally priced, items while you are there.

I am almost certain the corn at Target is a loss-leader since they seem to drop their prices first and drive Walmart to do the same. Knowing that it must be a loss-leader, I always buy other things that I would normally buy at the Target. I won't go in and just buy corn. This year I bought a variety of pickles, hot dog relish, and a pineapple.

I did find another great bargain locally. Last year they built an "Ice House" that sells coin operated water and crushed ice. They sell 20 lb of ice for $1.75, but you have to bring a cooler because it is unbagged and comes out of a chute. If you want a bag, they sell 15 lb for the same price. I hauled five big coolers that held 40 lb each to the location on the morning before my cookout. They have a change machine that takes bills up to $20 and gives you coin change in the new gold dollars and quarters. I filled all 5 coolers (200 lb) and bought 3 individual bags all for $22.75. That same amount of ice at Walmart in their 10 lb bags at $1.94 each would have cost me almost $50. This Ice House just became my go-to place for ice.:thumbsup:

 

[Bird]

Well, don't forget about the concept of 'loss leader' on the part of the stores. They sell stuff at/below cost just to get you in the door in hopes you will buy other, normally priced, items while you are there.

Very true, but I kinda doubt that was the case at Walmart this week. Day before yesterday, I went in Walmart for other things with no intention of buying any corn, and in fact was already checking out when I overhead a manager mention to someone that they had "just lowered the price a few minutes ago". So I paid for the things I already had, then went and got the 20 ears of corn. Yesterday, 24 hours later, I was in that same Walmart and they didn't have any fresh corn; already sold out.:laughing: So I'm familiar with loss leaders, but I suspect this time maybe the corn was getting a bit too much age? and they wanted to get rid of it. Anyway, it looked good, so we blanched it this time and froze it.

 

[Duffster]

OK, how do you know when to pick these watermelons?

I planted some this spring even though everyone said it wouldn't work and now I have ~12 nice little watermelons. I planted sugar babies and they are not quite as big as a bowling ball yet.