Dusty dirt road. Blue, cloud-filled sky above green fields as far as the eye can see. Hot summer sun, baring down. Perspiration across your brow, your back. The idea of walking across this field as long as a football field, in this heat, under this sun, and working for hours might sound like a daunting idea. But not to folks at Melon 1. This is their time to shine!

Summer is the season when watermelons come to life. They are at the center of our summer tables, punctuating the moments that we share with friends and family, providing the backdrop for us all to enjoy something special that we all need and want – love. Watermelons embody those summer moments spent together, bringing us all to the table, offering a colorful, sweet, healthy and cooling experience that no other produce item can offer. There’s something magical about sharing a slice of watermelon with someone special during the hot summer days.

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.

The largest watermelon shipper on the East Coast, Melon 1 was founded when two third-generation watermelon companies joined forces: F. H. Dicks of South Carolina candLawrence Lapide of New York to create. In 1999, Richard Chastain came onboard and the rest, as they say, is history. These families' hard work paid off, and Melon 1 soon became the largest shipper of watermelons across the USA. Melon 1 ships nationwide, using cutting-edge technology to meet food safety and traceability standards. That is why the Melon 1 label is so important – you'll know that the watermelons are safe, traceable, and grown by experts. They know what it takes to make sure their plants are grown in perfect soil, under the best conditions, to produce flavorful, sweet, healthy fruit!

Watermelon farmers roll up their sleeves and dig in, bearing the heat and the brunt of the hard work that it takes to grow watermelons. Often, farming is a solitary business, but it helps to share their passion with their their teams – and families. So, often you'll find that it is a family affair, which corresponds with the way watermelons were grown: to be shared with ones you love! That's why it's even more fulfilling to be watermelon growers for the Harrell Family, and their farm is known as Agrarian Farms out of North Carolina. Bill Harrel and his sons Charlie and David are 4th and 5th generation farmers, and this marks their 10th year growing watermelons with Melon 1!

More people you’ll see down those dusty dirt roads are people such as the Reid Family. Brothers Dennis and Rick, along with his son Denny, joined forces with a few other farmers, Stephen and Scot Abt, Zach Blanchfield and Vance Monroe, as sometimes you have to band together to get all the work done, efficiently and smoothly. Together, they grow about 700 acres of watermelons every year out of their farmland in Maryland. Passion, fun, and willing to get the job done – the true characteristics of farmers!

Also, three generations of the Mathis family have found their appreciation of agriculture has passed down from generation to generation, too, at the MGM Farms in Tifton, GA. Melvin began watermelon farming in 1977, and sons Ben and grandson Michael (all pictured) embrace family farming together today.

To me, this says a lot, because you have to have an iron stomach to farm. Being in a farming family, you see the real 'day in' and 'day out' work that goes into it. The hard part is that even after all of the hard work you've put in all year long, it can go away in a matter of an instant, as weather can change, things can happen so quickly and the result can be a lost crop. And, in many instances, some farmers can't recover.

This happens too often, and to watch your folks go through rough years of farming can be tough, so many kids would perhaps move away to do something different, something in an office or in a city. Yet kids grow up seeing how much their parents love farming, and how important farming is to all of us. Farmers don't typically farm for the money, but they do it more for the joy itself of growing food! Food that's good and healthy for us all. So, because of this, many times the next generation understands how farming is such an important job, and up until recently others might not appreciate or even understand it, but these farmers wouldn't dream of doing anything else.

For a few months every year, these watermelons are yours for the taking – yours to enjoy, one healthy bite at a time, offering sweet moments of happiness and all things good and wholesome. This is why the farmers with Melon 1 love what they do. They’re bringing their own sense of good, healthy and generational values to market, one sweet, flavorful Melon 1 watermelon at a time.

And Melon 1 watermelons are at the heart of summer, and I couldn't be more grateful. These are our farmers, the unsung heroes of America, and thank you to Melon 1, who's bringing us all a summer filled with healthy, delicious and sweet watermelon smiles.


Comments



716 responses to “Watermelons from Melon 1 – the heart of summer!”

  1. YOU HAD ME ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SHARING PART. IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE WATERMELON. ARE WE AT THE BEGINNING, THEN YES. ARE WE IN THE MIDDLE, OF COURSE, YES. BUT…. IF WE ARE AT THE END, WELL, I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE. EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!!!!

  2. farmers got it made, they can just take a break and sit in the sunshine where ever they are and feast on a watermelon for lunch

  3. There’s something magical about sharing a slice of watermelon with someone special during the hot summer days.😊

  4. I know it is hard to hide a watermelon because they are so big but they are green and in their natural element

  5. I see those lines of farmers heaving the watermelons down the line and wondering if one farmer messes up or drops one is that time for a break for all ? Farming watermelon is no doubt physically harder than cherry tomatoes or blueberries or apples but all God’s creation needs to be reaped

  6. Always that feeling of being home, always near and accessible to family. A very much respected job and even for some a hobby to get in that earth and make something wonderful and appreciated by many.

  7. I could be wrong but I sense farmers are waning to the take over automation world, but I’m still left wondering if farming is in any way a lucrative job. I know it’s got lots of perks,,at home, pick your hours,,,(somewhat), but your still at the mercy of weather when determining your income, AKA harvest

  8. Watermelon 🍉🍉 farming is a lot harder than it looks. Farming in general. So very Thankful & Grateful for ALL Farmers

  9. The end of summer’s picking Watermelon in FL was hard when the weather wouldn’t cooperate, & it was hot and humid !!

  10. Watermelon 🍉🍉 farming is not easy work. I have the highest respect, very grateful & thankful for ALL farmers. God Bless y’all

  11. It was cool to learn the company’s history and it’s origins. I didn’t know that Melon 1 was the largest watermelon shipper on the East Coast. That’s impressive!

  12. What a beautiful tribute to summer and the hard work of the folks at Melon 1! I love how this article captures the essence of watermelon as the heart of our summer gatherings. It’s wonderful to know that the melons we enjoy come from family-run farms with generations of experience, like the Harrell Family at Agrarian Farms. Kudos to Melon 1 for their dedication to quality and tradition, ensuring every watermelon brings a slice of joy to our summer moments! 🌞🍉

  13. I am surrounded by corporate farming. There are fields butted up against two of my property lines. “Farmers” are paid employees. The land is owned by people in suits. They spray their chemicals on me and my land via crop dusters. Farming is not like it was when I grew up on one.

  14. I would enjoy volunteering for a day, on most any job actually. (Gain knowledge and it gives you some nice to know stuff)

  15. Any farmer has my utmost appreciation. I wish continued success to this family as they pass it on to the next generation.

  16. I love growing things, even though all I have is a back yard. I’m glad they love what they’re doing.

  17. there is absolutely nothing negative about a watermelon except the mess you can make dissecting it and the amount of garbage one makes unless you compost.! yay

  18. Anyone that grew up eating these as a child knows that watermelon is one of the best parts and sweetest bonuses of summer

  19. It’s harder than ever for farmers now and so important that we support our local growers and farm markets

  20. Growing melons can be chancy–you never know what’s going to come up under them and ruin them.

  21. those watermelon farmers probably have a melon festival. that would be fun and colorful. I think watermelon items are beautiful with all the colors that make them up

  22. THANK YOU FARMSTARLIVING, not just for the food and recipes, but for the HONEST education that explains not just how things are done, but why and how this is applied to your higher standards and how it affects us. The journey is long, (to get to our table/home), but you always safely deliver and that is truly PRICELESS!!!

  23. I know farming is very long, hard work but it seems so relaxing, sunny, open, and free that a day of the experience is something all should sample and give watermelons a new respect

  24. I’m grateful that farmers love farming. This needs to be stressed more in schools. Most kids either think seeds just sprout, and the farmers go out for an hour once a year, or that all food comes from a grocery store, where it just magically ‘is’.

  25. Farming is all a\American and even though people are eating more than ever ! {oik oik}. I feel farming is a dying art. Not only is it taken over by concrete and traffic but short cuts are continuously being invented

  26. During training in WWII, the troops would hit the watermelon fields licky picky locusts, just cutting out the sweetest ‘heart’ of every melon, and going on to the next. I wonder if their farms were hit that way? (Source: my father, who did a pretty good locust routine.)

  27. If you’re thirsty, just drink up a watermelon. Your thirst is quenched while your belly is full.

  28. Bbqs, picnics , cookouts and any summer event you can always find a bowl of watermelon or even sliced watermelon

  29. I couldn’t be a watermelon farmer. I would be too busy eating watermelon in the field. Only the heart.

  30. It must be a love of farming and growing because I see the long hours and safety and pay and benefits that are involved or NOT involved

  31. Dedication and hard work pays off un the long run and doesn’t go unnoticed, in so glad and greatful to still have family farms today

  32. Favorite season and time of year and one of my two favorite fruits , it’s so refreshing

  33. Yourself so appreciated and so is your hard work , thank you for bringing these delicious fruits to our table ! Keep up the hard work

  34. Keep up the great work we appreciate and support all of your hard work and what you are doing

  35. farming watermelon is a healthy, good, useful, proud occupation that keeps you close to home and mother earth to keep things in perspective, fun food family, what really counts in this world

  36. sure seems like farms and family owned business’ have dwindled, a shame but what I see with automation and family spreading their wings to fly, not to mention the world of electronics.. I think those farm days were alot more social oriented, certainly family oriented with full support. We never had the pleasure of a visit to a watermelon farm but we went to the egg farm and them a milk farm every few weeks just for us six kids to survive.

  37. Appreciation and support goes along way for local farmers and they really need us especially now

  38. Never bot had watermelon in the summer ,it was a huge part of my growing up and us for my daughter as well now

  39. Good article and the farmers get all the free watermelon they can eat! That’s a great perk!!!

  40. Something we always looked forward to and loved as kids was watermelon,! This article reminds me of where I grew up at and takes me back

  41. These Melon 1 watermelons look so good. And I love how these are 4th & 5th generation farmers!

  42. Appreciate the farmers and all the hard work that goes into it , there’s so much more to it than we know

  43. It’s always good to know and learn where your food comes from and the farmers who grow it.

  44. It’s really great that your showcasing the farmers , we need to be more supportive when it comes to farms. Without them we don’t eat

  45. Personally I agree with this article any kind of farming is very hard and alot of work , it’s not foe tge weak that’s for sure

  46. I love farming and think farming watermelons is a beautiful sight. Free, open and sunny. Seeing for miles of beautiful greenery though the thought of harvesting for a day seems like a back breaker

  47. Eating cool watermelon during the hot summer days has to be one of the best childhood memories I have….that AND seeing lightening bugs at night!

  48. Our house is a family of watermelon lovers , we have this at least once a week in tge summer and it’s so satisfying

  49. Watermelon farming is definitely hard work! Thanks for providing us with some great melons!

  50. Reminds me if my being a kid, I grew up in a very country setting and my pap owned a farm , it brings back so many memories

  51. I love how it has traveled through so many generations! Wish there was more of that!

  52. Literally lived off of watermelon, and berries in the summer , I grew up in the country and my great grandfather owned a farm. There’s nothing better than a cold piece of juicy watermelon on a hot day

  53. Interesting article about many generation watermelon farmers and their dedication to producing the best watermelons!

  54. Watermelon on ice isa Must have in the blazing Texas summer! It’s the perfect afternoon cool off.

  55. I love that they have the cutting edge traceability standards so we know our food is safe and where it came from

  56. I like to find a ripe watermelon by tapping on it with my knuckles. The deeper the sound, the more ripe it is!

  57. I enjoy the recipes and suggestions on ways to serve. I also like the motto-“Watermelon 🍉 is the heart of summer!” Thank you all for everything!

  58. I know I have seen those stickers and I know that I have also enjoyed the watermelons.I thank you all for all the hot weather, long hours, and other things I don’t even know of….. THANK YOU…. ALL!!!

  59. Beautiful! I could eat that every day of the week. I love that fresh, light and super juicy flavor of watermelon!

  60. Grateful to the hardworking watermelon farmers for cultivating delicious fruits that bring joy to our tables and refreshment to our days. Thank you for your dedication and expertise!

  61. Melon 1 are the only watermelons that i buy, because to me, they have the best tasting watermelons, out of all other melon brands.

  62. I love the taste of watermelon! We enjoy it in the summer on hot days, it helps keep us hydrated!

  63. Mary, I thank you and all your coworkers for all your hard work that produces all the amazing produce you and your coworkers provide to America.

  64. I can’t tell you just how much I’m looking forward to watermelon this summer. I’ve already told my husband and best friend.

  65. Most people do ot realize the health benefits of watermelon. They just think they taste good in the summer

  66. I have learned so much and have a lot of respect for every person involved for all they’re hard work.

  67. Love Both Seedless and Seeds … The Varity is endless for Watermelons and So many new Varities and Heirloom come every year .

  68. My grandfather would buy a big watermelon and lay it in a cold water stream. We’d have a family cookout and for desert was that ice cold watermelon!

  69. I have never gone through a summer without watermelon. I look forward to summer for ALL the fruits that are available.

  70. Our family loves watermelon . . . we have not had much luck in growing them however. So we just buy them from the store and enjoy their sweetness.

  71. Watermelon has always been a staple in my family since I was a little girl. My favorite summer snack. Enjoy it with some salt. Yum

  72. […] The star of the show here is truly the juicy watermelon and if you know us at all, then you know we're only using watermelons from our friends at Melon 1. They're the watermelon experts and they grow watermelons right in the USA all summer long so you know you're getting the freshest watermelon out there. You can read more about Melon 1 and their farms in this Mary's Blog article. […]

  73. Yummy MELON1 watermelons are the juiciest melons around! Great for making fresh melon salsa.

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