We all may have the idea of watermelon being sweet, the concept of “the sweet life”, but savory and sweet….
Watermelon growth:
Watermelon is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varieties.
When considering how to grow watermelons, know that it is not that difficult. The plant does all the work. They grow great in the south during warmer seasons. Usually during the beginning of March, in the South it is perfect to start planting watermelons since it does start to get warmer around the beginning of spring. Growing conditions for watermelons include lots of sunshine during the day and warm nights.
Watermelon is grown in rows and in raised beds composed of well drained sandy soils. The crop is ready to harvest within 3 months. All watermelon is handpicked and cut from the vine. Pickers look for a pale or buttery yellow spot on the bottom of the watermelon, indicating ripeness. Pitching crews follow the cutters and pitch watermelon hand-to-hand to load into trucks. At the packing shed, watermelon is inspected for quality, washed and separated according to size.
YUMMY TO MY TUMMY
Recipe: Avocado Toast with Watermelon Dill Pickles
INGREDIENTS:
- watermelon dill pickles, shaved into ribbons
- diced watermelon
- whole grain thick cut bread
- avocado
- lemon juice
- crumbled goat cheese
- everything bagel seasoning
- microgreens
- bacon slices (optional)
- hard-boiled egg slices (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Toast bread.
- Cut avocado and smash with a fork onto bread.
- Top with lemon juice first, then add remaining ingredients.
This avocado toast is extra with a capital E. From the Watermelon Dill Pickles to the crumbled goat cheese, bacon and egg slices, you’ve got it all in this breakfast, lunch or dinner dish!
It’s crazy how many food creations can be done with a fruit, that is seasonal sweet and savory. Watermelon is a very fun fruit to experiment with. From food to drinks can be made with a single fruit.
Watermelon Contains Many Nutrients and Benefical Plant Compounds:
The watermelon consumed during the summer gives an incredible boost of energy, the watermelon is the fruit with the highest concentration of water, low in calories and is a good source for Vitamin C.
Watermelon is packed with nutrient-dense minerals. At 92% water, watermelon is an excellent and delicious way to help hydrate your body. Research suggests that people who eat more vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases, including heart disease and some cancers. Watermelon is a wonderful addition to a heart-healthy diet and is proudly American Heart Association Heart-Check Certified. It is cholesterol-free, fat-free, sodium-free, and only 80 calories per 2 cups.
The Watermelon Culture:
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Watermelons were domesticated in north-east Africa, and cultivated in Egypt by 2000 BC, although they were not the sweet modern variety. Sweet dessert watermelons spread across the Mediterranean world during Roman times. Considerable breeding effort has developed disease-resistant varieties.
Wiggins Farms is a family-owned farming company. Darren, Kerri, Jesse, Jared, Ashlyn, and Zayne Klaire, live and breathe farm life. They specialize in the growing of watermelons, but they also grow onions along with a few other row crops. Coming from an agriculture family Darren decided he would love to harvest his own crops and share with others what he loves best. Darren and Kerri Lee Wiggins. “Blessed to be able to work together to bring our customers the best watermelons.” He continues and says.” We have to earn the trust and respect of our customers every day in order that the customer makes the decision to choose our product and services. We sell products with service, and service is provided by people. There are no magic formulas. Our success is guaranteed by creative, productive employees who are empowered to make suggestions while thinking “outside the box.” Every job is essential to fulfilling our mission to “provide distinctive quality. With this being said Wiggins Farms is committed to offering quality and service.
As a farm family company, culture is an extremely important part of the success of any company. It directly influences motivation, performance and employee satisfaction. When you work for a company with a culture that showcases your personality and working style, it stimulates creativity and productivity. A great culture ensures that you can perform optimally and experience personal growth.
I, myself, have been a fieldworker/farmer, I’ve had the honor of growing around the field of watermelon. I have learned from my greatest teacher, my father, Jose Santivanez. For about 2 decades now, Jose Santivanez, who has been the Wiggins Farms harvester, knows how to run it. From cultivating, planting, and harvesting. Santibanez Trucking, which is family owned and operated, has been around for it. “It’s a process but worth the wait, my people and I are ready to go when our harvest is ready. Weather conditions can make a huge difference when it comes to our harvest because we can expect more but receive less, at times during a good season we receive more than we expect, and it is challenge since we are forced to try and pick all the good melons off the field and get them to the shed so they can be distributed”.
https://www.whenistheseason.com/when-is-watermelon-season/
https://www.watermelon.org/recipes/avocado-toast-with-watermelon-dill-pickles/
Sweet and Savory (2022)
Wiggins Farms/Santibanez Trucking
Daniela Herbert