South Carolina’s watermelon crop flexed its vegetable muscle during the 2022 harvest season. In a survey generated by Clemson Extension agents, specialty crop producers responded with acreage and subsequent value for that year’s cropping season. According to the South Carolina Grower, the goal was to identify which counties that the watermelons were produced, how much was grown and market prices for the year.
In summary, there were 53 farms in 18 counties that produced 2,459 acres of watermelons. Bamberg County, in the southeastern part of the state, produced the highest acreage with 1,297 acres. Beaufort County produced 384.6 acres, while Barnwell produced 284 acres, and Allendale added 240.
Observed prices were between 19 cents and 30 cents per pound with an estimated yield of 45,000 pounds per acre. With 2,459 acres at an average of 24 cents per pound, that generates $26.5 million in estimated value.