Especially in the last few months, we've seen more about the challenges with growing our food and how difficult it is for farmers. So quickly we can forget what went into actually bringing those fruits and vegetables to your produce department, and many of us don't quite know what went into growing the food in the first place. That's one thing I love to spotlight - the farming process behind the food - so that you can see how much heart, hard work, time, and money went in to growing, harvesting, packing, and shipping those farm-fresh fruits and vegetables! This is why I often say that farmers are often taken for granted and should be celebrated!
Seasonal items, like watermelons, are often even harder to grow because farmers have only a small window of time to accomplish what they need to, and external factors like weather, and now Covid-19, can be working against them. Talk about pressure! A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Melon 1, and I loved meeting the family, the farm workers, the staff, and team who all were busy as bees making sure their watermelons were representative of the high quality Melon 1 label, including delicious flavor, and were safe for us all to eat. Since 1935, Melon 1 has worked with family farmers all across the USA using cutting-edge technology to meet food safety and traceability standards, but keeping people at the heart of their business.
Here's a look into the complex but fascinating process of how they are growing one of the most popular summer fruits ever – the watermelon!
The whole process takes about 100 days - from planting to harvest! So, three months before harvest, watermelon 'transplants' are planted into well-drained sandy soil where they are watered and carefully looked after every single day. They grow slowly but surely on a vine, eventually growing into large, juicy, and ripe watermelons ready for the picking. The more bees the better, as these pollinators are critical and essential to growing delicious, juicy watermelons. Some farmers use bumble bees, some use honey bees. The main factor is to make sure that there are plenty there, as without them, there would be no watermelons!
Back to the "picking," because once the watermelons are ready for harvest, the real work begins! There's no fancy farm equipment when it comes to harvesting watermelon. Every single watermelon is inspected and harvest by hand to ensure that the fruit is not only ready to eat, but also makes it to your store in the best condition possible. Pickers look for a pale yellow "belly" on the bottom of the watermelon, which indicates ripeness. Once watermelons are cut from the vine, it is quite the thing to see! Watermelons are literally tossed by hand down a line of farm-workers into school buses – I bet you didn't expect to see school buses on a watermelon farm!
The school buses are actually purchased from schools in the district, and then the schools are able to upgrade to newer, better ones for their students. A win /win! One thing though - they have to have their roofs removed first! The roofs are literally chopped off so that they are open and ready for the watermelons to be lobbed overhead. Then, a line forms of farm workers, who take the watermelon and toss it along the line to their team, then gently placing them into the buses. After this has happened, and the harvest is complete, the bus of watermelons are then taken to the packing shed where they are again inspected, washed, and prepared for shipping. Then, once all of that is completely supervised by a team of people who have monitored the entire process, the watermelons are loaded into trucks to deliver to your local grocery stores! Then, it's all about you seeing them in the produce aisle - now ready for your pickin'!
What I especially love about these farmers at Melon 1 is the sense of family and camaraderie with the team, as they all face so much in a season, and this closeness and depending on each other strengthens their bonds with each other. They all have each other's backs. And Melon 1 is still a family business at heart today. From all the people working there, they all pride themselves on providing you with the freshest, highest quality watermelons possible. And, a humble family for sure, they admit that they owe their success to the many farmers and team of people who join alongside with them to make watermelon farming again this year (and next) possible. Happy Summer and sending y'all watermelon smiles!
So cool how they’re using old school buses.
good to learn GET SCHOOLED ON WATERMELON
This is a great way to learn how watermelons are grown.
I love that the watermelons take a school bus!
thank you for the lesson on growing these tasty treats
I knew very little about watermelons……..UNTIL NOW….. Thank you for the information
I love watermelon!
so much work but what a result
Didn’t know it was around 100 day process!
sOUNDS GREAT
Thanks for sharing.
So many things you don’t think about that farmers go through!
Huge process!
So much hard work!
A great way to learn how watermelons are grown.
That is quite the process.. thank you for sharing. I am now more aware of the time and labor necessary to bring this tasty treat to my table
Such an intensive process to grow watermelons
Crazy how farmers have a small window to plant things like watermelon and they get it done! They got it down!
yummy
Learned a lot
I want to go grow some now!
You learn about the growing of watermelons.
thank you for the hard work the harvest calls for
Love a sweet watermelon!
I never knew watermelons were so much work
It’s amazing that melon 1 has been around since 1935!
Visit central Florida’s great farming community.
Thanks to the farmers who grow watermelons for their hard work.
100 days to wait for quality melons..if I have to wait, I will
I so enjoy your informative blogs. The photography is stunning!
Thanks for putting a spotlight on the farmers and the processes behind where our food comes from. Farmers tend to get overlooked and forgotten about.
Is there anyone who doesn’t love watermelon on a hot summer day?
Never thought of watermelon marinating!
A great way to learn about growing watermelons.
great for a refreshing pick me up
Much respect for these hard working individuals
Great to pass this on to the next generation
Watermelon best treat in the summer
I like that they use old school buses.
I look forward to reading your blog! I also enjoy the photos-please keep posting both! 🍉🍉
You can learn a lot about watermelon farming on here.
Such great info!
Love your beautiful photography!
I’m anxiously awaiting watermelons this year!
I wish I could grow watermelons.
We have seen the fields in AZ.
Can’t wait for the harvest
Great to teach kids farming!
NICE!
A good way to learn how watermelons are grown.
Nothing better than cold, juicy watermelon on a warm summer day.
I love a sweet seedless watermelon
It is really an interesting process and the hardest part is ounce they are fully grown. Although, it doesn’t say anything about prepping the ground. Do they have the right type of soil…..
My dog loves watermelon!
Loved reading your blog.
Nice to learn all about watermelons.
Watermelon season fast approaching
Wow all those seem to be a perfect shape. I had no idea they grew so quickly! Yummy!
I love history on anything! I make a mean watermelon & feta salad. 🥗1🍉
Always something interesting to learn. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for the great information about one of my favorite summertime treats!
Nice!
lots of love and devotion goes into growing this sweet treat
I agree with the article, there is SO much more that goes into farming that we know nothing about.
Love these fresh watermelons from melon 1,as they taste the best ,watermelons from all other brands.
I love learning!
A good way to learn about watermelon farming.
So much to learn about watermelons!
A perfectly refreshing summer treat: watermelon!
They start out so cute n tiny
I did not realize watermelon liked sandy soil, that is probably why we can grow big watermelons in Central Wisconsin!
watermelons are ready
Can’t wait for them to be in season
YUMMY!
Love me some good ole watermelons.
a good team makes such a difference
Great educational article!
This article was very interesting. I didn’t realize it took that much to grow watermelons.
So much time and effort!
Interesting
A good way to learn about growing watermelons.
Great informaton!
I think I will plant watermelon in my garden now
wonderful
I just find all of this information on all the people like Mary, and all the other people who help to make our produce
I love that they show the process and even how many days it takes!
Who does not love a good watermelon?
love it
they are so big
I know all about Watermelons, I come from a small town in Oregon where there Watermelons are world-famous!
You learn what it takes the farmers to grow watermellons.
A lot of hard work goes into the process so its nice to be able to thank all the workers that are behind the scenes.
Nothing feels as summer as watermelon tastes.
These watermelons look so good!!
Nothing like a fresh, juicy watermelon!
Thank you for sharing!
Cool things to learn!
A great way to learn about watermellons.
Thanks 🙂
HOOOO. RAAAAA to ALL the farmers!!!!
It is a very hard process to grow great watermelons.
yummy.. I can eat a whole watermelon by myself…
Excellent article.
Interesting. Thank you.
This is what we need to teach the kids!!
Now I have even more reasons to love watermelon!
Thank you, farmers!
I’m a fan of watermelon and will always jump at the chance to serve watermelon to my family and friends. Thank you farmers.
I just learned recently how good watermelon is for you healthwise
I love watermelons, and they are essential to my specific health needs, so I find it important to know how they are grown and harvested with such care. Thanks for sharing this.
I love watermelon.
A good way to learn how watermellons are grown & what it takes to be a watermellon farmer.
So refreshing on a hot day!
When I lived in Northern Florida, I’d see those busses all the time, loaded with nice, juicy Watermelon. Nothing like a just picked, delicious Watermelon !!
oh my favorite food
Nothing better than watermelon on a hot summer day.
Though I’m 47, I STILL can’t pick a good watermelon!
I learned alot about watermelon growing, TYSM
I’m allergic to watermelon – but my twin granddaughters love it
I used to love to go and pick a watermelon out of my Papa’s garden as a kid!
Watermelons are my favorite fruit. I love them in a salad with red onion and cucumber.
can’t live without farmers
It is so interesting learning about the process and the behind the scene work that we don’t realize that goes on.
I planted watermelon 2yrs ago in my garden and the process was amazing to watch.
Love the reuse of the school buses!
My dad taught me as a kid to grow watermelon and more! So cool!
Nice ….
I don’t take farmers for granted. I know they work hard!
Love this article
This was very informative and interesting. I would think that a lot of people don’t realize just what goes into every aspect of the process. I want to thank ALL farmers every where for all they’re hard work they put into every crop and every step of the way.
I love refreshing watermelon especially on a warm summer afternoon. Thank you, farmers!
Thanks for sharing and teaching!
Very interesting.
I have to tell ya that you guys are kill’n me with all this talk. I must say when I was young I couldn’t be bothered with this stuff, but in my older, (not old, older) it is truly fascinating. In this day and age I would have thought someone would have found an easier way of growing melons. I guess it’s something to work on! : }. Keep up the great work, we all appreciate it VERY MUCH.
Watermelon is one of my favorites!! Thank you for all you do!
glad to hear all about my FAVORITE FOOD !
So much cool information!
Very interesting
Did not know that the pale yellow “belly” on the bottom of the watermelon indicates ripeness
Thank you farmers, you are appreciated very much!
Growing watermelons is very rewarding for all!
Watermelon is Summer !!
I love watermelon anytime
Seedless watermelons are my fav
Would love some good watermelon
Interesting article
Wow. Just wow.
So much information! This is amazing and shows you how much goes into something we think is simple
my whole family loves watermellon
This great, we had a watermelon that grew a little, the boys really liked to watch it, then something got to it, good ideas
A lot of hard work goes into being able to put thehigh quality Melon 1 label on watermelons!
Watermelon … what’s not to like … YUM!
I love a good sweet watermelon
I love learning about watermelons
I’ve learned alot about watermelons, thank you so much..
i’d like to try to grow some watermelons myself
we live on watermelon in the summer!
So many ideas. I am liking the posts.
Love watermelon in the summer
I have learned a lot about watermelons 🍉 since I read these educational pages! There is only an 100 day window for a ripe juicy watermelon 🍉 to make it to my dinner table, IS incredible!! Good work bumble bees 🐝 Thank you for sharing!
GET SCHOOLED I DO LIKE THE HARVEST WHEN THEY USE THE OLD SCHOOL BUSES.
LOVE reading your blog and learning so much about the farmers that work so hard to provide our food! Thanks for all you do!!!! YUMMY STUFF!!!
[…] And Melon 1 takes joy and to heart their important role of delivering this slice of Americana to you, summer after summer, one school bus at a time. See more behind-the-scenes fun on the watermelon farm in this article. […]
Wow this is pretty awesome! I saw one in person when I was in the Raleigh/Durham area.
We appreciate all our farmers! I enjoyed reading that MELON1 are a family owned and operated business that works all around the globe. Generation after generation of family and friends running such amazing farms. Thanks MELON1 for the juiciest watermelons on the vine! Your hard work does not go unnoticed in our family!
Such an interesting read! Packed full of great information on the whole watermelon process from start to finished! My boys thought the cut off busses were pretty cool too! Great job Farm Star Living and MELON 1
I LOVE WATERMELON CAN’T WAIT TO GO BUY MY MELON 1
If it was,nt for you farmers we’d all starve to death.
I have never thought about using watermelons to marinate. Sounds good
Hi,do you have any recipe for Watermelon Cheesecake?
Can you grow indoors? Or must.the fruit have bumble bees ?
We haven’t tried growing watermelons indoors or outdoors…we leave that to the experts! 😉
pick me
LOVE reading your blog pages! I’ve so enjoyed the info and the pics too!!!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you find the info helpful! 🙂
I love watermelon! Sweet, juicy. Low cal!
I love Watermelon. I wish I could eat one everyday.
Love watermelon and now know more about growing and shipping. Wish we got this brand here in South Dakota.
Thanks for letting us know about the “school bus harvesting” for your watermelons.
WATERMELON SUCH A GREAT PICKER UP ON A WARM SUMMER DAY
Wow it really is quite the process, I love learning about how the foods we eat are grown from start to finish! Thank you!
Looks like a lots of work but the results are awesome
Nice!