Watermelon Time and the Living is Easy

Watermelons. They are everywhere in Visalia. Tasty too. I was told once to look for black goop coming out of it's ridges to tell if it is ripe or not. He said it was sugar seeping out. Rarely has this tactic let me down. Here is some more fun facts about watermelon I dug up from the Internet:

1. Not only does it quench your thirst, it can also quench inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis.
2. Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown worldwide.
3. Watermelon is an ideal health food because it doesn’t contain any fat or cholesterol, is high in fiber and vitamins A & C and is a good source of potassium.
4. Pink watermelon is also a source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene. These powerful antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing free radicals.
5. Watermelon is a vegetable! It is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
6. Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
7. Watermelon is grown in over 96 countries worldwide.
8. In China and Japan watermelon is a popular gift to bring a host.
9. In Israel and Egypt, the sweet taste of watermelon is often paired with the salty taste of feta cheese.
10. Every part of a watermelon is edible, even the seeds and rinds.
11. The first recorded watermelon harvest occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.
12. The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.
13. According to Guinness World Records, the world's heaviest watermelon was grown by Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 2005, weighing in at 268.8 lbs (121.93 kg). Lloyd grew and weighed in for the Annual Hope, Arkansas Big Watermelon Contest on September 3, 2005
14. By weight, watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.