PUHI — Watermelon is a sweet alternative to water said Jessica Smith, the nutritional support person at the Regency at Puakea Friday. Friday was celebrated as National Watermelon Day and members of the public were invited to drop in and
PUHI — Watermelon is a sweet alternative to water said Jessica Smith, the nutritional support person at the Regency at Puakea Friday.
Friday was celebrated as National Watermelon Day and members of the public were invited to drop in and enjoy a chilled wedge as a cool way to end the work week, said Sharon Lasker, the Regency marketing officer.
“Let Regency at Puakea help beat the heat,” Lasker said in an email. “Aug. 3 is National Watermelon Day.”
The Punchbowl.com website suggests celebrating National Watermelon Day by having some for dessert, slice it up, eat it plain, cook it on the grill, mix it into a salsa or blend it into a cocktail.
“It’s good for hydration,” said Smith, a recent graduate of the San Diego Culinary Institute. “It’s like flavored water, and it’s perfect for people who don’t like plain water.”
The first recorded watermelon harvest took place nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt, states Watermelon.org.
The website’s goal is to increase consumer demand for fresh watermelon through promotion, research and educational programs.
The watermelon is 92 percent water and early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Curcurbitaceae is the official name of the watermelon, making it a cousin to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
The first cookbook published in the United States in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles, and according to Guinness World Records, the world’s heaviest watermelon was grown by Lloyd Bright of Arkadelphia, Ark. in 2005, weighing in at 268.8 pounds, or 121.93 kg.
The melon was grown and weighed in for the Annual Hope, Arkansas Big Watermelon Contest on Sept. 3, 2005.
According to the State Symbols USA website, August is National Catfish Month. Aug. 4 is National Chocolate Chip Day, Aug. 5 is National Mustard Day and Aug. 6 is National Root Beer Float Day.
Visit www.watermelon.org for more information and recipes on watermelons. Visit www.statesymbolsusa.org for a complete list of the different observances.
