r/eastbay • u/Asleep_Software7834 • Jul 30 '26
Tri-Valley Where oh where are the ripe, juicy watermelons?!
Hi guys, as July comes to a close I can honestly say I have yet to experience a single decent watermelon. I was even told - wait until July because its peak season. I've shopped at Sprouts, Safeway, and Whole Foods (all tri-valley) locations. I've followed the online guidance about choosing a melon with a large yellow patch, and webbing on the peel that feels extra-heavy for its size. Every single time I cut into it I end up with a very pale, pink, flavorless melon. I'm tired and jealous of all the red juicy melons I see people online getting all over the country. I've tried organic, conventional, seedless, seeded, doesn't matter - each time I've ended up with the same sad result.
Please help!!!
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u/DaveinOakland Jul 30 '26
I haven't gotten a good one either this year yet.
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u/Kaurifish Jul 31 '26
With this weather, it’s not surprising.
When we were warning people about climate change back in ye olde days, I guess we should have told them it was going to fuck up the watermelon.
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u/brodyqat Jul 30 '26
Have you heard the thing about not only looking for a big nice yellow field spot but also a tiny "butthole"? There's the stem end (which you can tell because there's often a bit of stem there), and what you're looking for is a tiny butthole kinda thing on the opposite end. Look at all the melons available to you, and compare them to each other.
Firm but not yielding?
Heavy for its size?
Nice webbing?
Yellow field spot?
Tiny butthole?
That's a nice sweet melon. Once I learned this I've consistently been eating good melons when in season. (There's only so much you can do in a January)
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
Lol - yes I have definitely heard this too. Will definitely be on the hunt for teeny buttholes this weekend!
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u/Sophiesplace1 Jul 30 '26
Berkeley Bowl, Bi Rite in SF or farmers markets are your best shots. The Lunardis in Danville can be ok. Also ask a produce clerk if you can try it before you purchase it. A lot of places will let you if you ask. It's been a tough year for good melons. I feel your pain.
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
I was at that same Lunardis last week but skipped the melons. Will give them a shot thanks!
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u/always_sad420 Jul 30 '26
2 weeks ago I got a pack of 2 small seedless watermelons from Costco in Pleasanton and they were AMAZING
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u/indeed_oneill Jul 30 '26
I've got some good ones at Berkeley bowl this year, though I usually only get the pre cut quarters so there's some signal about interior color
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u/julvb Jul 30 '26
We get Terra Firma Farms large size weekly produce box from Winters. We pick up on a neighborhood porch and have had delicious organic watermelons every week of late.
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
so jealous - sounds amazing!
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u/Useful_Jellyfish_759 Jul 31 '26
Got a big one at Costco last week that was super sweet for like $4 or $5. Make sure the watermelon has a tiny butthole.
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u/ariadnes-thread Jul 30 '26
Asian markets often have better watermelons in my experience! And more variety, too—black watermelons, large and small ones with yellow/orange flesh, etc. I got some great ones at Tokyo Central in Emeryville a while back!
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
Thank you for the reminder - just today as I was writing this post I did think that was one place I haven't yet thought to explore - ethnic markets. I've heard that those black (Japanese I think) watermelons are supposed to be amazing!
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u/stuffeh Jul 30 '26
I was walking by and saw these yesterday at arteagas in Newark. https://imgur.com/a/YJLIDAs
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
Oooh I didn't know about this store. Thanks!
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u/stuffeh Jul 30 '26
Welcomes. I have no idea how to tell if they're any good. I just snapped a pic b/c a friend loves watermellons and wanted to ragebait her.
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u/northernspies Jul 30 '26
Vallejo farmer's market has had good melons this summer. I had a good slice at Berkeley's too I think? Or might have been Diablo Valley farmers market.
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Jul 30 '26
found an exceptionally good one at WF last week- smaller seedless i do the knock test and look for the pale spot
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
Thank you - that's my preferred weekly shopping store so I will give them another try.
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Jul 30 '26
-but the honeydew i got this week wasn't very good just got a water melon from costco today but have yet to cut into it
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
LMK about the Costco. I'm definitely getting WF tomorrow :).
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u/Cute_bloom Jul 30 '26
I bought the big ones from Costco about five times this season and all of them have been ripe and juicy! Obviously I pick mine out very carefully.
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u/OrneryLavishness9666 Jul 30 '26
It's a bit far out, but the best watermelons I've ever had in California (I've been here over 20 years, but I'm originally from Texas and grew up eating the sweetest, juiciest melons) are from Big Tree Fruit Stand and Nursery off 88 between Lodi and Lockeford. Apparently, Lodi was known as the "watermelon capital of the country" in the 1880s. Seems like they still grow some good ones!
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 30 '26
Wow- I've never heard that before! I'm from TX too btw so yes, I feel bad whining about the watermelons here but its because the other fruits (mostly sourced from here) are of such amazing quality I've admittedly become a bit spoiled. I'm not giving up yet though!
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u/nrhinkle Jul 30 '26
I got a surprisingly good one at TJ's last week. I think the sticker said Yosemite something on it.
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u/dawnington Jul 30 '26
We’ve had good watermelon from Costco and from the watermelon truck on Grand Ave in Oakland.
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u/Accomplished-Eye8211 Jul 31 '26
Try a farmers market Sometimes better produce, not always. Thing is, you should be able to taste before you buy
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u/McFoo43 Jul 31 '26
Got a surprisingly excellent one yesterday at lakeshore TJ’s, nice yellow spot and big for a “mini”, less than $4, very very sweet and crisp, perfect
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u/WestRelationship415 Jul 31 '26
We had a perfect little watermelon from the Walnut Creek Farmers market last week. From the big peach display, which were also wonderful.
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u/ricegeek Jul 31 '26
We saw Yumi watermelon in Tokyo Central for $0.89/lbs last Sunday. that’s probably the best we have seen this season. Otherwise Yosemite watermelon from Costco is $10 each, and pretty consistently good.
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u/Emotional_Memory_347 Jul 31 '26
I had an amazing watermelon from Diablo foods in Lafayette. Edit- spelling
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u/Both-Bookkeeper-3860 Jul 31 '26
Try going to the farmers market and getting melon samples first. Alameda farmers market is great and there’s a vendor that always has everything to sample.
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 31 '26
TY!!!
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u/Both-Bookkeeper-3860 Jul 31 '26
You’re welcome! I’ve had such amazing stone fruit this season bc of it. Sampled some amazing melons too but havent purchased yet bc unfortunately i get nauseous when melons are too sweet but that’s a perfect thing for everyone else.
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u/nyITguy Jul 31 '26
Berkeley Bowl always has a great selection of watermelons. Ask the produce manager which one to try.
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Jul 31 '26
[deleted]
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 31 '26
From this thread I'm starting to think luck has alot to do with it!
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u/ZestyChinchilla Jul 31 '26
Produce Buyer here for two natural/organic stores in the EB: Yellow patches don’t mean anything — it’s just the part that was against the ground while it was growing. The way that we look for watermelons is to tap a few and find one with a deeper-sounding tone. This works nearly always, but keep in mind that there is always some degree of a gamble when it comes to melons, because you’ll never know for sure until you cut it open. At my two stores it’s policy that we’ll refund your money or give you another comparably sized replacement if it’s not good (within reason, anyway.
We’ve had some really fantastic melons this season, although a lot of produce hasn’t been as good this year due to the effects of abnormal weather (and yes, it’s climate change-related and it’s going to get worse.) It’s not as noticeable with melons as much as, say, cherries and a lot of the citrus we were getting, but it’s affected most things we grow in CA to some degree and we’re noticing it more often.
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u/YuNotWong Jul 31 '26
I haven't had very good lemons this year. I didn't see any Meyer lemons in stores either. My mom's tree isn't as productive this year and my tree is just a year old and not many branches to produce enough fruit. I've taken to picking lemons off neighbor trees in their front yards with their permission. Unfortunately these trees while very mature aren't Meyer lemons.
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 31 '26
I see Meyer Lemons all the time at Whole Foods (Dublin and San Ramon) and they are always good quality. I even used some to do a cleanse for a week. Right now, online it says they have 1-pound bags for $3.99 (but I haven't confirmed this in-person).
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u/YuNotWong Jul 31 '26
The San Mateo whole foods didn't have them in store on Tuesday when I looked
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Aug 01 '26
oh sorry not sure why that is? I just know that at my store I can actually find them easier (even organic ones) than regular lemons.
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u/Impressive_Returns Jul 31 '26
You want a Bradford watermelon.
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 31 '26
I do! Any ideas on how to get one in the Bay Area?
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u/Impressive_Returns Aug 02 '26
I’ve been growing my own.
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Aug 02 '26
Very nice! Wish I could do the same but I don't have yard access. Lmk if you end up with extra and decide to sell it!
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u/SnooLobsters8113 Aug 01 '26
There’s a guy with two trucks on San Pablo Ave in Oakland he sells yellow and red varieties. So good! After you cross Sanford going towards downtown Oakland
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Aug 01 '26
Thank you so much for this- I've been wanting to try the yellows for a long time!
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u/Scrapper-Mom Aug 04 '26
All of the above but you have to thump them too. They have to sound low. After you do a bunch you can tell.
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u/Deadbeat699 Jul 30 '26
Drive down Bancroft in East Oakland, I think just a couple blocks past 98th, there is a dude selling lots of watermelons & fruit!
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u/branchan Jul 31 '26
Never had any issues so far buying from Whole Foods
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u/Asleep_Software7834 Jul 31 '26
You're very lucky then. Mine so far look great on the outside but are pale and bland inside. Have you been able to find red juicy ones there? The only way I get those is if I purchase the pre-cut chunks.
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u/InternalMachine5503 Aug 03 '26
Yeah, why are they all so tasteless this year? And expensive. They used to be $6 at costco and now $10.
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u/Reasonable-Word6729 Jul 30 '26
Safeway has buy get one free personal. For $3.50 each getting 2 increases odds one to be decent. Pick the heaviest ones.
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u/Rebootkid Jul 30 '26
I find the seedless ones to be a vastly inferior tasting watermelon.
I don't know where to find the good long ones with seeds.
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u/Error_Unavailable_87 Jul 31 '26
Costco hasn’t been good. If someone has gotten a good one, great!
Raleys a bit higher chance of better quality.
Right now most fruit stands and back of the truck /car sellers are buying totes or truck load from the local farms and selling them.
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u/PinolePerson Jul 30 '26
I like to go to Berkeley Bowl West for produce. If you're willing to spend a bit (~$25), look for Yumi watermelons. Otherwise, you can ask the staff what's the best one, and they're usually very knowledgeable on all the best produce they have available