Watermelon Board Receives Record-Breaking Number Of Entries As Consumers Embrace Using The Whole Watermelon

WINTER SPRINGS, FL – More than 1oo watermelon carvings were submitted in this year’s Watermelon Carving Contest, hosted by the National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB). The annual contest – which is held each July in honor of National Watermelon Month – encourages beginner and experienced carvers alike to create watermelon works of art.

“We were not only overwhelmed by the number of entries this year, but also the incredible ingenuity of the submissions. Entrants really took their creativity to a new level,” said Stephanie Barlow, NWPB Senior Director of Communications. “Watermelons were intricately carved using different methods like paring and sculpting. Entrants also used paints, melon ball scoops, appliqués and staging methods.”  

Photos of watermelon carvings were received from across the globe – from the island of Malta to the United Kingdom to Seattle, Wash. Carvers used red and yellow, seeded and seedless, and mini (also known as personal) and full-size watermelons. Once relatively ambiguous, watermelon carving has grown in popularity as consumers place a high importance on both value and using every part of the watermelon, not just the juicy flesh. So much so, that consumer magazine Woman’s Day recently sponsored their own Watermelon Carving Contest, featuring two front-cover carvings accompanied by a four-page magazine spread.

“Not only is watermelon carving a fun, unique canvas to showcase your art, but it also uses a portion of the watermelon that is often overlooked and discarded. Using the whole watermelon, whether it be to enjoy as a nutritious dish or as a piece of art, is a tremendous value and eliminates waste.”

Winners from five different categories – both Beginner and Experienced – received $4,000 in cash prizes. Categories for this year’s carvings included Most Elegant, Fun/Funniest, Best Animal, Star-Spangled and Best Basket. Four entrants were also honored for “Judge’s Choice” and “People’s Choice” carvings, where consumers cast more than 700 votes for their favorite carving on the contest website. View the complete list of winning carvings at http://bit.ly/2015-Carving-Contest

For inspiration for next year’s contest and watermelon carving tips and tricks, visit Watermelon Board’s Pinterest Board or the  “Carvings” page on watermelon.org where new carvings are regularly added. Categories for the 2016 Watermelon Carving Contest will be announced in January.  

About National Watermelon Promotion Board
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 1,500 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.

Watermelon, the produce leader in lycopene, is a multivitamin unto itself, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamins A and C and a good source of Vitamin B6 with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 13.5 pounds in 2014. Watermelon volume in the United States was approximately 4.3 billion pounds in 2014. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.

Source: National Watermelon Promotion Board