Watermelon consumption has risen for four straight years, climbing from 14.6 pounds per person in 1993 to the present level of 17.4 pounds per person in 1996. The average American ate nearly three more pounds of watermelon in 1996 than in 1993, according to USDA statistics. The reason for the increased is consumption three fold. One reason is improved seeded and seedless varieties. The growth area has been in seedless watermelons.
Seedless watermelons have better flesh quality than seeded watermelons.
Watermelon fits the health conscious consumer. A third reason is the increased year-round availability of the product. The heaviest volume of imports are received in March, April and May. The Specialty Crops Program located at the Raymond P. Cunningham Research Station in Kinston is evaluating many types of seedless watermelons and specialty melons with a eye towards the market. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and the NC Department of Agriculture is working in a cooperative seedless watermelon project with several growers in Wayne County and the surrounding counties.