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Texas Agriculture Archive

July 1, 2005

Texas tops in watermelon?

A dry and relatively cool spring is credited for providing a Texas watermelon harvest that may trump that of top producing states Florida and California. Last year the Texas crop was valued at $61 million, but Florida had the largest at $67 million. The dry weather in southern Texas provided conditions in which farmers could irrigate the watermelon plants with the perfect amount of water. Cool temperatures provided for a slower period for ripening, resulting in a richer fruit.