The Watermelon Story
Journey through the watermelon story to discover the invaluable people and steps it takes to enjoy one of America’s favorite pastimes.
The Growers
Meet the people who make watermelon possible.
“We grow watermelons; that’s just all we know. I’ve been doing it for 15 years basically, out here every day.”
Chad Chastain
“You can use the whole watermelon: the rind and flesh. There is so much you can do with a watermelon other than just cutting it up and eating it.”
Christian Murillo
“I grew up on a watermelon farm, so there’s a lot of stories out there by they all end in really hard work to produce a really great product.”
Rachel Syngo
“I like to grow watermelons because that’s what my family’s done for three generations now. Who wouldn’t want to carry on their legacy.”
Kyler Bishop
“Watermelon is such a happy fruit. When you think about watermelon it just makes you happy!”
Jordan Carter
“What I like about being a watermelon grower is the challenge. The challenge with labor, the property we can plant on, the weather. It’s just a very challenging crop.”
Dan Van Groningen
In the Field
How are delicious watermelon grown and harvested?
Watermelon is grown in rows and in raised beds composed of well drained sandy soils.
The crop is ready to harvest within 3 months.
All watermelon is handpicked and cut from the vine.
Pickers look for a pale or buttery yellow spot on the bottom of the watermelon, indicating ripeness.
Pitching crews follow the cutters and pitch watermelon hand-to-hand to load into trucks.
At the packing shed, watermelon is inspected for quality, washed and separated according to size.
3 things needed to grow watermelons.
In the Store
Watermelon is available in a variety of cuts to fit your lifestyle: whole, mini, fresh cuts and juice.
Choosing a watermelon is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Look the watermelon over. Look for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
- Lift it up. At 92% water, the watermelon should be heavy for its size.
- Turn it over. Look for a creamy yellow spot on the underside of the watermelon (called the “ground spot”). This is where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.
In Your Kitchen
Once cut from the vine, a watermelon has about 3-4 weeks of shelf life.
Wash your watermelons.
According to the FDA, you should wash all fruits and vegetables (even those with rinds!) in clean, running water before eating them.
Store watermelon carvings in the refrigerator (up to 1 day).
Store cut watermelon in glass or plastic containers in the refrigerator (should keep for at least 3-5 days).
On Your Table
100% of the watermelon is edible.
Flesh: Dice into salsas, add onto salads or grill as kebobs.
Flesh: Dice into salsas, add onto salads or grill as kebobs.
Juice: Blend into smoothies, mix into cocktails or enjoy as pure juice.
Juice: Blend into smoothies, mix into cocktails or enjoy as pure juice.
Rind: Slice into stir fries, ferment into pickles or carve into a serving bowl.
Rind: Slice into stir fries, ferment into pickles or carve into a serving bowl.
