Summer is winding down, but you can hold on to the last sweet days of summer with the ultimate summer treat- Watermelon!
While watermelon is a symbol of summer in America and is as American as apple pie, America can’t lay claim to its origin. Watermelons originated in the Kalahari Desert and were brought to this country by African slaves. Watermelon got its name from being a melon that is mostly water. In fact, it is 92% water and ancient travelers used it as a source of transportable water.
The first watermelon harvest was held in Egypt approximately 5000 years ago and is depicted in the art and hieroglyphs found on ancient Egyptian buildings; its seeds and leaves have even been found in Egyptian tombs.
Today, there are watermelon festivals held throughout the summer to pay tribute to this refreshing treat and August 3rd is National Watermelon Day. So, whether you like watermelon with feta cheese as they do in Israel and Egypt, snack on its roasted seeds as they do in Asia, or eat it plain, now is a great time to enjoy and learn more about the wonderful watermelon.