With this heatwave stretching across this country, Cathy Isom has you celebrating the fresh summertime treat you’ll want to get your hands on today. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Celebrating National Watermelon Day
Today is National Watermelon Day. And what better way to recognize this day then with a refreshing slice! Watermelon is 92% water, which is why it is so satisfying in the summer heat.
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a particular kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center. The fruit was likely first cultivated for its ability to hold plentiful water in a desert landscape, especially since the wild melon was bitter or tasteless.
Seeds and art found in tombs of Pharaohs furnish substantial evidence of the watermelon’s value. Cultivation and breeding brought out the better qualities of sweet and tender fruit we enjoy today.
Watermelons can grow enormous. You will find competitions across the country which award prizes each year for the largest one. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the heaviest watermelon weighed 262 pounds.
Nutritionally, one serving of watermelon is about 85 calories and is loaded with vitamins A, B6, C, lycopene, antioxidants, and amino acids.
To learn more refreshing watermelon facts, check out www.watermelon.org.
As you enjoy your slice of watermelon, make sure you post on social media using #NationalWatermelonDay.
I’m Cathy Isom…