 |
 |
| |
|
View Archived Facts
|
| WATERMELON 7/1/2008 |
| |
Watermelon is a requirement for all summer picnics. Did you know that watermelon is really a vegetable, is a cousin to a cucumber and kin to a gourd? But where did it come from?
A good quality watermelon should exhibit shape and rind color that is characteristic of its variety. All varieties, which include the picnic, ice box, seedless and yellow, should be firm and symmetrical. The picnic is large, round or oblong in shape and the ice box is round. The seedless is oval to round and the yellow is oblong to long. Watermelons do not ripen after harvesting. A ripe watermelon should have a dull rind, dried stem, yellowish underside where the melon touched the ground and should produce a distinct hollow sound when thumped.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest watermelon ever grown was 262 pounds.
_______________
In China and Japan watermelon is a popular gift to bring a host.
|
| |
| HISTORY: Watermelon is thought to have originated in the Kalahari Desert of Africa. The first recorded harvest occurred in Egypt nearly 5,000 years ago and watermelon were often placed in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife. Today China is the world’s number one producer of watermelons. |
| |
USES: Two cups of diced watermelon amount to 80 calories, fat free, cholesterol free, very low sodium, a good source of Vitamin A and potassium and high in Vitamin C. Watermelon is 92% water, which is probably why early explorers used them as canteens.
A unique idea is to freeze watermelon cubes or chunks to use as ice cubes in beverages. Its prettiest display is when carved into a boat or basket to hold a variety of cut fruits.
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
