Fun Summer Facts: Watermelon

Most closely related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash. It's made of 92% water and is a fantastic source of Vitamin C. 

Although the interior is typically pink, it is possible to find other coloured flesh: orange, red, and yellow.  There are more than 1200 varieties of the fruit, ranging from 2 pounds to 200 pounds.


In the Vienamese culture, watermelon seeds are consumed during the Vietnamese New Year's holiday, Tết, as a snack.


Fans of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL started a tradition of hollowing out a watermelon and wearing it as a makeshift football helmet (the color of the Roughriders is green). During the 2009 Grey Cup in Calgary (between theMontreal Alouettes and the Roughriders), thousands of watermelons had to be imported to Calgary supermarkets to prevent a shortage being caused by Rider fans.


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Ever tried watermelon logs with fruit filled rectangles? Or how about Kung Pao Watermleon Shrimp? Check out the  National Watermelon Promotion Board for a large selection   of recipes involving watermelon.






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CHOOSING THE RIGHT WATERMELON:

1. LOOK – Your watermelon should be firm, symmetrical and free of major bruises or scars. Some minor scratches are okay, however. After all, the purpose of that thick rind is to protect the delicious contents inside. Ripe watermelons should also be dark green in color.

2. LIFT – The ripest watermelons have the most water. And since watermelons are 92 percent water, your watermelon should be relatively heavy for its size.

3. TURN – Turn your watermelon over and check out its bottom, which should have a creamy yellow spot (also called “the ground spot”). This is where the watermelon sat on the ground while it soaked up the sun at the farm. If this spot is white or greenish, your watermelon may have been picked too soon and might not be as ripe as it should be.

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SQUARE WATERMELONS

Farmers in Japan started to grow square watermelons due to lack of space in their refrigerators. The square shape allows them to stack and store the fruit more easily. Farmers insert the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.

The square boxes are the exact dimensions of Japanese refrigerators, allowing full-grown watermelons to fit conveniently and precisely onto refrigerator shelves.

WATERMELON CARVINGS

Talented people around the world are doing amazing things with watermelons. It is unreal to think that these carvings are made from watermelons. The details and precision are amazing.

Take a look below at some samples of watermelon art.