Georgia Growers Gearing up for Watermelon Season
May 28, 2020 June is a super sweet spot for Georgia watermelon growers. Despite a relatively cool spring and ongoing challenges from the coronavirus crisis, local farmers stayed on track and consumers should still start seeing Georgia Grown watermelons in stores the first week of June, according to the state’s watermelon association.
The Georgia season typically peaks around June 20. “We expect excellent quality and even more, we are eager to have a successful growing season,” said Rob Greene, Georgia Watermelon Association (GWA) President and owner of Lime Creek Farms in Arabi, GA.
The coronavirus has forced everyone to adjust, including the 2020 GWA Queen Ambassador, Lindsey Westberry, who would normally be planning to be in stores this summer helping market the crop. Due to social distancing restrictions, she is helping consumers through serving in other ways in her local community.
Just before Memorial Day, Westberry joined in with members of the National Guard at Second Harvest of South Georgia (SHSG) to pack food boxes for the local community in Valdosta. SHSG provides more than 3 million meals to those with food insecurity. “Having the opportunity to give back to my community alongside many of our service men and women was truly a blessing,” she said.
2020 Georgia Watermelon Association Queen Ambassador Lindsey Westberry helps out at a local food bank by packing boxes.
On social media, Westberry is planning to put together recipes, safety and how-to tutorials for consumers.
“It’s more important now than ever to support your local economy – and we do that from purchasing in season produce like watermelon when it comes in stores,” said Samantha Kilgore, GWA Executive Director.
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