A Short History Of Watermelon

Watermelon is a juicy fruit quite like a sweet

. It brings back memories of summer picnics when one could bite it to quench the thirst. It is a popular fruit enjoyed throughout the world and it is full of nutrients. When looking at its history, its origin goes back to where it grew and made its way to our diets.

Watermelon shares a relationship with cantaloupe, squash and pumpkin. It is grown on vines on the ground. The watermelon grows in many different shapes. Some of its varieties come with a variety of flesh colors and rind. It flesh comes in red and yellow colors. The plants thick rind have striped, stripped and green colors.

The white skinned citron first grew in Africa which is believed to be the ancestor of watermelon. The earliest harvest has been recorded by Egyptians about 5000 years ago. Egyptians considered watermelons as an important fruit to their culture and were depicted in hieroglyphics.

Watermelons had later spread to other countries by merchant ships. The plants thrived along the Mediterranean Sea and they made their way to China by 10th Century. It spread throughout Europe later in the 13th century.

Watermelons made its way to the US during the African slavery trade. The word watermelon was added in the English Dictionary for the first time in 1615. Texas, Florida, California, Arizona and Georgia are the five US states that currently lead watermelon production. The US ranks fourth in worldwide watermelon production. China is number one.

Watermelon has 1200 different varieties. Recent cultivations resulted in the development of many desirable characteristics of the fruit. It included the ones with thin rinds and seedless varieties. Watermelon enjoys exportation and importation all over the year.

Facts about Watermelon

-There are 96 countries globally that grow watermelon.

-Egyptians and Israelis enjoy salads made with watermelon and salty feta cheese.

-The Chinese and Japanese often presented watermelons as a polite gesture to the host when they visit.

-The water composition of watermelon is 92%.

-The weight of the largest watermelon ever grown was 268.8 pounds.

-The first cookbook published in the US had a recipe for watermelon.

-Watermelon is rich in vitamins A, B6 and C.

-Every part of the watermelon can be eaten including the rinds and seeds.

by: Tauqeer Hassan

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