Jun 1, 2021

Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association launches Flavor of Sunshine campaign

The Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association has announced the launch of its 2021 Flavor of Sunshine campaign. This campaign is intended to support the 2021 Eastern Cantaloupe season by driving business for retailers with consumer-facing marketing components such as branded PLU stickers on the fruit, recipes and a social media campaign that promotes the benefits of eastern cantaloupes.

“Our members are proud of the Eastern cantaloupes they grow, with their exceptional sweetness and unique flavor profile,” Debbie Johnson, Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association (ECGA) executive director, said in a news release. “They’re also proud of the strong partnership they have with buyers and retailers in the Midwest and eastern U.S. and are excited about the Flavor of Sunshine campaign and the positive impact it will have on retail sales.”

Also called Athena Melon, muskmelon and rock melon, among other names, Eastern Cantaloupes are grown throughout the Midwest and all along the East Coast. In its outreach to retailers, ECGA notes that melons produced in these regions, which are available from mid-June through early September, benefit from the wetter climate and rich soil, and consequently tend to be larger and sweeter than those grown in the western U.S.

“Eastern Cantaloupes go from field to store in as little as 24 hours,” said Tony Phillips, COO at Frey Farms and ECGA president. “They’re picked when ripe, ready to eat, and give off an enticing aroma that hints at their incredible sweetness. They’re also larger than other cantaloupes, so they catch the eye of any shopper walking through the produce area.”