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 Did You Know? : Produce Facts: Watermelon |
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Statistics | Did you know? |
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 Watermelon ranks first amongst fresh fruits and vegetables in Lycopene content, a cancer fighting antioxidant.
Though only 47% of Americans live in the suburbs, they are the largest consumers of watermelons, closely followed by those inhabiting rural areas.
There are upwards of 1,200 varieties of watermelon in existence, grown in nearly 100 countries worldwide.
Watermelon is mostly comprised of water, nearly 92%. |
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In 2004, watermelon sales reached $313.5 million, translated to 13 pounds of watermelon consumption per capita. |
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In 2005, watermelon production reached 3.8 billion pounds in the United States. |
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The steady increase in watermelon consumption over the 1990’s is a result of better marketing (pre-cut, wrapped products), smaller seedless varieties, increased public awareness on the nutritional values of watermelon, year-round availability, and a strong national economy. |
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Mexico is the largest watermelon importer to the United States (91.2%), followed by Guatemala (3.5%) and Costa Rica (2.4%). |
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Watermelon is the most widely-consumed melon in the United States, followed by cantaloupe and honeydew. |
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Between 1978 and 1998, the United States annual per capita use of watermelon increased 41%. |
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Though most commonly identified with other melons, watermelon’s nearest relations are cucumbers, pumpkins and squash (as you may notice from their strikingly similar blooms). |
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Please click on the images below to view larger graphs |
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USA Watermelon Consumption
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USA Population and Watermelon
Consumption, by Region |
USA Watermelon Consumption,
per % above the poverty mark |
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USA Watermelon Consumption, by Age (FEMALES) |
USA Watermelon Consumption, by Age (MALES) |
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Did you know? |
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Historically, the first watermelon plant to have been documented was recorded nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Watermelons were commonly buried in the tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife. |
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All parts of watermelon are edible. The rind can be pickled and used in “sweet brine” or “candid.” It can also be chopped finely and used as a condiment, moisture additive to baked goods, or merely for texture. |
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In China and India, watermelon is primarily grown for its oil, which is used in cooking, and protein rice seed, which is commonly roasted as a popular snack food. |
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In Africa, watermelon seeds are baked and used for porridge or as coffee ground substitutes. |
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In Mexico, watermelon leaves are used as anti-Malarial medication. |
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Early explorers used watermelons as canteens. |
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According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest recorded watermelon in the United States weighed a phenomenal 262 pounds and the longest seed spitting record was 75 feet and 2 inches (1975). |
Source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/vegetables/vegpdf/WatermelonFactors.pdf |
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