Yalobusha Watermelons Are Shipped Across The Southeast

Approximately 10,000 melons were picked and boxed last weekend at Cypress Creek Farming Co. as they are prepared for shipment across the southeast. The melon crop, along with cantaloupes and pumpkins, are grown on approximately 100 acres by Ross Burney and family outside of Coffeeville on CR 211.

It’s been a bumper crop of watermelons this year at Cypress Creek Farming Co. as almost 100,000 melons will be shipped to stores and stands across the southeast when the last melon is pulled next month. This season marks the third year Ross Burney and family have diversified their farming operation with the addition of almost 100 acres of watermelons, cantaloupes and pumpkins  grown on County Road 211, outside of Coffeeville.
Burney reported the watermelons are sold to wholesale distributors, who resale them to grocery stores and other suppliers. Local peddlers also purchase pickup loads at a time to sell across Yalobusha and surrounding counties. While large watermelon farming operations are more common in southern Mississippi, Cypress Creek Farming Co. is one of the larger operations in the north part of the state.
Burney said the planting times are staggered, starting with planting vines in grow houses for early melons to ensure ripe melons are ready to be shipped around the Fourth of July holiday. More watermelons are planted later and the season extends into September. He said many of the shipments contain melons that weigh between 35 to 45 pounds each.
He also noted that there seems to be more interest in locally grown produce this year, which could be attributed to the global pandemic as people appreciate the importance of the local food supply chain. He added that growing melons dates back three generations in his family.
Burney shared that the furthest his melons have been shipped this year is South Dakota, where a peddler purchased 400 watermelons and transported them to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
“They sold them by the slice up there,” he added.