From slices and seed-spitting contests to watermelon salsa and pickled rinds, no matter how you enjoy watermelon there’s no denying it’s a big part of the summer season. North Carolina is the eighth-largest producer of watermelons in the nation, and more than 249 million pounds of watermelon were grown in the state in 2012. In […]
N.C. watermelon
Spring watermelon planting about to yield summer goodness
As much as strawberries signal the start of the spring harvest to many people, watermelons are the calling cards of summer for many others. The sweet and refreshing flavor of watermelon just seems to go hand in hand with the heat of summer. On a late April visit to James Sharp’s farms to see strawberries […]
Tomatoes ripe for tasting in Asheville
Cooler temperatures aren’t the only reasons to visit the mountains this weekend.Visitors to the WNC Farmers Market will get a chance to sample and vote for their favorite variety of locally grown tomatoes in the annual Tomato Tasting celebration Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everything from Mr. Stripey and Mountain Fresh to Carolina […]
In the Kitchen with Brian and Lisa: Watermelon salad
WRAL reporter Brian Shrader and our own Lisa Prince feature seasonal recipes in their Got to Be Good Cookin’ segment using ingredients grown and available right here in North Carolina. North Carolina farmers markets are full of two crops in August – watermelons and tomatoes. This recipe for watermelon salad combines the two in a […]
Watermelons, peaches, tomatoes and more available at local farmers markets
Robert and Adam Worley of Cerro Gordo walked away with the top prize in the largest-watermelon contest held yesterday during Watermelon Day at the State Farmers Market. The Worleys’ 212-pound melon enjoyed the awe of everyone at the event, and earned the duo $1,000. If you missed the contest, the prize melon will be on […]
Enjoy N.C. peaches and watermelons this July
You know its July in North Carolina when peaches and watermelons pop up at farmers markets across the state. Today, the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market celebrated the season with Peach Day. Market visitors were able to sample local peaches, try some Howling Cow peach ice cream and meet N.C. Peach Queen Katie Parsons. The Charlotte […]
Photos from the Field: Seed-spitting contest
Fourth of July celebrations are perfect for eating watermelon, and North Carolina has plenty of the tasty treat. In fact, North Carolina is the eighth-largest producer of watermelon in the nation. If you didn’t eat watermelon over the holiday weekend, don’t worry; there are several watermelon events planned over the coming weeks for you to get your fill. One […]
In the Kitchen with Brian and Lisa: Watermelon cooler
WRAL reporter Brian Shrader and our own Lisa Prince feature seasonal recipes in their Got to Be Good Cookin’ segment using ingredients grown and available right here in North Carolina. North Carolina is the eighth-largest watermelon producer in the nation, and the summer melon is now available in local farmers markets and roadside stands across the state. […]