Watermelon facts

Mon., Nov. 7, 2005

The Spokesman-Review

•Watermelon’s closest relatives are cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and gourds.

•Every part of a watermelon can be eaten, even the seeds and rind.

• Scientifically speaking, watermelons are both fruits and vegetables. The plants themselves are vegetables, but the part you eat is the “fruiting body” (or reproductive organ) of that vegetable plant.

•More than 4 billion pounds of watermelon are produced in the United States every year.

• Japanese farmers also have produced square watermelons. They’re easier to ship, but cost a lot.

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