August 3Rd – National Watermelon Day

          Watermelon Facts 

·         Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar.

·         The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.

          Watermelons were also placed in the tombs of kings to help them nourish in the after life.

·         Over 1,200 varieties of watermelons are grown worldwide in 96 countries.

·         Watermelon’s official name is Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Curcurbitaceae.

·         It is cousins to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.

·         By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.

·         Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.

·         The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.

·         In 1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN grew the largest watermelon at 262 pounds that is still on the record books (1998 ed. Guinness Book of World Records).

·         Watermelon is actually a vegetable and not a fruit.

·         The watermelon is the natives of the Kalahari Desert found in Southern Africa.

·         Watermelons were brought to China across the Mediterranean sea in merchant ships. Incidentally, China is the largest producer of watermelons in the world today.

·         Every part of the watermelon, including the seeds and the rind is edible.

·         Watermelons are very fragile and cannot be harvested with the help of machines. Instead they are carefully tossed by workers on a relay that runs between the fields and the truck.

·         Unripe watermelons should be avoided as they can be slightly acidic.

·         The largest consumption of watermelon is in the United States when considered by the weight of the watermelon.

·         Watermelon is a popular gift for the host In China and Japan.

·         Watermelon became a part of the dictionary in 1615.

·         In some Mediterranean countries, the taste of watermelon is paired with the salty taste of feta cheese.

·         Watermelon has no fat or cholesterol and is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C and contains fiber and potassium.