5 Watermelon Facts + Red and Yellow Watermelon Pops

I’m surprised to know that there are several farmlands in our area. Last week, I went on a melon tour at Tanaka Farms, the largest organic farm in Orange County. Farmer Glenn Tanaka and his family own and operate the 30-acres Tanaka Farms located in a valley of Irvine, CA

On the melon tour, I tasted three kinds of watermelon: 1) Seeded Watermelon 2) Seedless Watermelon 3) Yellow Watermelon (my favorite).

The melon tour inspired me to share five facts about watermelon and make a treat.

5 Watermelon Facts and Red & Yellow Watermelon Pops

1) It’s packed with water. Watermelon contains about 91.5 percent water and 6 percent sugar. Its high water content helps keep you hydrated.

2) Watermelon is also a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and lycopene ( the pigment that gives tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit their red color). A watermelon has more lycopene than raw tomatoes.

3) Study finds that about 15 ounces of watermelon juice before a workout can reduce muscle soreness.

4) Watermelon rinds may not be as juicy as the flesh, but it’s edible. It has a bitter flavor, so most people cook it as a vegetable.

5) There’s a yellow watermelon also known as Yellow Crimson. Its flesh has a sweeter honey­like taste.

Watermelons is a favorite Summer fruit and its peak harvest season is May-August. It is available all-year round, produced in the states of Texas, Georgia, Florida, and California.

 

Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?
In moderation, dogs can eat watermelon. For safety, it is not recommended for dogs to chew on watermelon rind because it can cause gastrointestinal upset.

The melon tour is not dog-friendly. The Tanaka Farms have two furry resident dogs, Val and Bubba. I got to pick watermelons on tour and made a frozen treat to share with SUGAR, Yellow and Red Watermelon Pops.

Pawsome News! My homemade dog treats cookbook Cooking For Sugar is now available pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indie Bound.