Source: UC DAVIS RURAL MIGRATION NEWS, 12/18/20

Watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews are cucurbits, a plant family that includes cucumbers and pumpkins, squash, and zucchini. Most melons are consumed fresh in summer. Melons are over 90 percent water, and the cost of transporting them long distances can equal production costs, especially in summer when there are many fruits and vegetables to transport.

Production and Trade
The US had 8.2 billion pounds of melons available in 2018, or 25 pounds per person, including 15.7 pounds of watermelon, seven pounds of cantaloupes, and 2.5 pounds of honeydew and other melons. Watermelon per capita availability has been stable over the past decade, but cantaloupe availability declined from 11 to seven pounds, and honeydews from three to 2.4 pounds per person since 2000.

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