By Clint Thompson A productive and prosperous watermelon season in North Florida last spring does not guarantee increased acres next year. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, explains why one of the most successful seasons in recent memory will not necessarily lead to more watermelon acres …
Increase in North Florida Watermelon Acres Next Year? Not So Fast
By Clint Thompson A productive and prosperous watermelon season in North Florida last spring does not guarantee increased acres next year. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, explains why one of the most successful seasons in recent memory will not necessarily lead to more watermelon acres …
Charlotte Regional Farmers Market to Host Watermelon Day on Aug. 11
CHARLOTTE – You know summer has fully arrived when fresh North Carolina (N.C.) watermelons are on the market. To celebrate these seasonal favorites, the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market will host Watermelon Day Friday, Aug. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors will be treated to free watermelon samples, giveaways and recipes. They can also enjoy scavenger hunts, take their …
Watermelon’s Value in South Carolina
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 …
Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market to host Watermelon Day June 21
You know summer has fully arrived when fresh North Carolina (N.C.) watermelons are on the market. To celebrate these seasonal favorites, the Robert G. Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market will host Watermelon Day on Friday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will be treated to free watermelon samples, giveaways and recipes, plus they can enjoy scavenger hunts, …
Florida Watermelon Growers Lead in Total ProductionÂ
While many enjoy sweet, cool watermelon as a treat or snack this summer, remember where it comes from. Some Florida growers claim they had their best season ever. Florida continues to lead the nation in watermelon production. From 2010 to 2021, Florida growers ranked No. 1 in the United States with an average of 22,616 acres of watermelon harvested per …
Bumper Crop: Florida Watermelon Growers Still Lead Nation in Production
While many enjoy sweet, cool watermelon as a treat or snack this summer, remember where it comes from. Some Florida growers claim they had their best season ever. Florida continues to lead the nation in watermelon production. From 2010 to 2021, Florida growers ranked No. 1 in the United States with an average of 22,616 acres of watermelon harvested per …
Perfect Storm: Weather Events Impacted Georgia’s Watermelon Season
By Clint Thompson Intense heat in recent weeks quickly led to the conclusion of this year’s watermelon harvests in most of South Georgia fields. The two-week deluge of rainfall in June also contributed to the crop’s shortened harvest window this year. “The extreme weather events really beat the vines up and it also introduced disease. That coupled with, once they …
Watermelon Research: UGA Scientist Highlights Work Done on Tifton Campus
By Clint Thompson Watermelons are one of the most valuable vegetable crops that South Georgia growers produce every year. It is only appropriate that the University of Georgia (UGA) conducts research that will benefit farmers for the foreseeable future. Ted McAvoy, UGA Extension vegetable specialist, is tasked with researching watermelons and the different types that producers want to grow, on …
Winding Down: Heat Impacting Georgia’s Final Melon Harvests
By Clint Thompson The intense summer heat is taking a toll on South Georgia watermelons; so much so that the crop appears to be in its final days of harvest this year, believes Greg Leger, owner of Leger & Son, Inc. “There’s a couple of late fields around that we’ve just been into one time and starting a second time, …