It’s become the symbol of summer – that special pinkish-red and shades of green, with seeds or without and full of juice the runs down your chin – few things are more refreshing on a warm summer day than a slice of watermelon. When you think of watermelon you think there are only seeded and seedless, but there are actually more than 1,200 varieties of watermelons grown worldwide across 96 countries! In honor of the popular fruit, we are sharing some fun facts and our top six honey and watermelon recipes.
While many people see watermelon as the quintessential food of summer, the fruit is actually available year-round because it is grown in warm places such as the U.S., China, and Africa. Speaking of the U.S., did you know that we rank 7th in worldwide watermelon production, with Florida, Georgia, Texas and California leading domestic production? Talk about a sweet gig!
According to our friends at the Watermelon Board, only three things are required to grow watermelon – “sun, bees and water.” We know that honey bees are essential to many of the fresh produce we enjoy, and their pollination work extends to the watermelon industry as well. The time it takes from the honey bee pollinating the yellow blossom of the watermelon plant to the crop harvest is about 3 months.
Now, there is no denying that watermelon tastes good, but did you know that the fruit also possesses a multitude of nutritional benefits? According to watermelon.org, this nutrient-dense fruit is American Heart Association Heart-Checked Certified due to it being fat-, sodium-, and cholesterol-free and containing nutrients that support heart health. And you might expect a fruit with “water” in its name would contain a good amount of water, but did you know that watermelons are a whopping 92% water? Hello, hydration! Another fun fact: 100% of the watermelon is edible! Be sure to check out their website for creative ways to use the less obvious parts of a watermelon.
Just like honey, watermelon can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, and today we are sharing our top six watermelon and honey recipes that are as refreshing as they are delicious!
We want to hear from you! What fun watermelon facts have you seen? How do you enjoy watermelon and honey? Let us know in the comments below!
