State Farmers Market seeks state’s largest watermelon


RALEIGH — The State Farmers Market is on a hunt to find the largest watermelon in North Carolina. The weigh-in will take place during the market’s annual Watermelon Day on Aug. 1.

The grower with the heaviest watermelon will win bragging rights and $1,000. The second-heaviest melon will earn $500, the third-heaviest will earn $300 and the fourth-heaviest will earn $200.

All entries must be from North Carolina, and growers must be prepared to identify where the watermelon was grown. Only one entry will be allowed per person. Entries will be accepted until 11:30 a.m. The weigh-in will take place at noon.

Melons should be free of decay and soft spots, and stems should be trimmed to 3 inches. All entries will become the property of the State Farmers Market following the weigh-in.

In 2012, H.C. Williams of Bailey set a new event record with his 232-pound watermelon.

The largest-watermelon contest is part of Watermelon Day, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the market’s new covered event area. The area is located between the N.C. Seafood Restaurant and the garden section of the Farmers Building. In addition to seeing the oversized watermelons, visitors can enjoy free watermelon slices, pick up watermelon recipes and visit with the N.C. Watermelon Queen.

Watermelon Day is sponsored by the N.C. Watermelon Association, State Farmers Market Restaurant, R & H Produce, Ford’s Produce, Ford’s Gourmet Foods and the State Farmers Market. More information about this and other upcoming market events is available at www.statefarmersmarket.org.