Statistics
Watermelon ranks first amongst fresh fruits and vegetables in Lycopene content, a cancer fighting antioxidant.
Though only 47% of Americans live in the suburbs, they are the largest consumers of watermelons, closely followed by those inhabiting rural areas.
There are upwards of 1,200 varieties of watermelon in existence, grown in nearly 100 countries worldwide.
Watermelon is mostly comprised of water, nearly 92%.
In 2004, watermelon sales reached $313.5 million, translated to 13 pounds of watermelon consumption per capita.
In 2005, watermelon production reached 3.8 billion pounds in the United States.
The steady increase in watermelon consumption over the 1990’s is a result of better marketing (pre-cut, wrapped products), smaller seedless varieties, increased public awareness on the nutritional values of watermelon, year-round availability, and a strong national economy.
Mexico is the largest watermelon importer to the United States (91.2%), followed by Guatemala (3.5%) and Costa Rica (2.4%).
Watermelon is the most widely-consumed melon in the United States, followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.
Between 1978 and 1998, the United States annual per capita use of watermelon increased 41%.
Though most commonly identified with other melons, watermelon’s nearest relations are cucumbers, pumpkins and squash (as you may notice from their strikingly similar blooms).
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