Hirakata Farms in Rocky Ford, Colo., is a fifth-generation family business that has worked the land around Rocky Ford for more than 100 years. Today, it farms 900 acres and ships its produce, including Rocky Ford melons, throughout Colorado and the surrounding regions.
Known for their sweet and juicy taste, Rocky Ford melons are a sought-after fruit. “Ever since the first planting in 1887, Rocky Ford Cantaloupes have been the standard to which growers around the world aspire,” says Hirakata Farms.
Like many growers this year, Hirakata Farms has faced its share of adversity.
“Weather has been challenging this year,” said Michael Hirakata. “We started out in a drought, followed by extreme cold, and then extreme heat. We had 70-80 mph wind that hurt the set of our plants. Then it was back to torrential rains. Then a hailstorm hit and took out a good portion of our cantaloupe, watermelon, mini melons, honeydew and pumpkins.”
But while the yields on cantaloupe are average this year, there was a juicy upside.
“The cantaloupe are really sweet this year and the quality is great,” Hirakata said.
Its yields on honeydew are also average, but yields on watermelon are down at least 30%, Hirakata added.
Rocky Ford melons are widely sold throughout Colorado in major retail chains including Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and Target stores.
“I think retail along the Front Range [a mountain range of the Southern Rocky Mountains that is home to Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs and more] does a great job of promoting local products and we are only two and a half hours from the Denver distribution centers, so the fruit is always fresh,” Hirakata said.
While Hirakata says his family farm’s biggest challenges continue to be weather, water and labor, opportunity remains. Hirakata Farms is exploring the expansion of its product line to grow additional melon varieties.
“At Hirakata Farms we work hard to employ best agricultural and farm management practices, but we can’t take all the credit,” says Hirakata Farms. “That’s because we are truly blessed with the right climate and growing conditions that make Rocky Ford so special.”
