Melons belong to the cucurbit family, which also includes cucumbers. Southern Mexico and Central America are thought to be the source origins of cucurbits. Today’s predominant melon varieties include watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. In 2004, the total value of production of U.S. watermelons was $313.5 million. Cantaloupe production was valued at $300.6 million and honeydew production totaled $89 million. Combined, all melons made up the third highest ranked vegetable and melon crop in the United States behind lettuce and onions. By weight of national production, watermelons alone, because of their bulk, were the third ranked vegetable and melon crop behind onions and lettuce (NASS).
Ideal growing conditions for melons include a long, warm frost-free season. Thus, the primary commercial producers of all U.S. melons are found in the southern portion of the country including in California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia and Florida. The harvest season for melons lasts from April through December but varies within states. February 2006 . . . Melons
- Cantaloupe (production, costs, IPM, postharvest), University of California-Davis.
- Center for Plasticulture, Penn State University.
- China Agricultural Data, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California, 2001 - Information on production, cost of production and trade.
- Vegetables and Melons, Briefing Room, ERS, USDA.
- Enzor Farms, Fair Bluff, North Carolina - This sixth-generation family farm has raised melons and sweet potatoes since 1850. The farm offers cantaloupes as well as watermelons for sale.
- Fruits and Vegetables: Enhanced Federal Efforts to Increase Consumption Could Yield Health Benefits for Americans, GAO Report Number 02-657, 2002.
- Larriland Farm, Woodbine, Maryland - This pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farm is owned by Larry and Polly Moore. The farm has 15-plus acres of vegetables, including cantaloupes. It also has a 14-acre strawberry patch, peach, apple and cherry trees and several types of berries.
- Mixed melons (production, costs, IPM, postharvest), University of California-Davis.
- PlantFacts, Ohio State University - This Web site provides a full-text search engine of all extension and academic department information from all land-grant universities in the United States. Additionally, there are significant image and video databases, an FAQ database and a glossary.
- South Texas Melons, Marketing Orders, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA.
- Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan, AMS, USDA.
- Weed Control in Cucurbit Crops (muskmelon, cucumber, squash and watermelon), University of Florida, revised 2007 - This research-based University of Florida document contains management practices for the control of weeds.
Links checked February 2008.