"Though May through early fall is watermelon season in the U.S., you might very well see the fruit in grocery stores in the dead of winter or other off-seasons. It's likely the fruit was harvested and imported from Central American countries, like Mexico or Costa Rica, with warmer year-round climates. However, out-of-season melons are sometimes picked before fully ripe to make up for time spent in transport to the store, as well as storage."
"Both situations could result in a watermelon that has a muted flavor, dull in color, or even a mealy texture. Since watermelons require lots of sun to develop their sweetness, for optimal flavor and texture, it's key that the fruit is allowed to reach full maturity on the vine before being picked."
"The best time to find watermelons is in the summer, though the season officially ends in fall. Peak ripeness can depend on the state in which watermelons are grown, but July and August usually result in the sweetest, juiciest fruit with the boldest, most colorful flesh."
Watermelons reach optimal sweetness, color, and juiciness when allowed to fully mature on the vine, which typically occurs from May through early fall in the U.S. Out-of-season watermelons are often imported from warmer Central American countries or harvested early to survive transport and storage, resulting in muted flavor, dull color, or mealy texture. Domestic off-season crops may lack sufficient sun exposure and sweetness. Peak ripeness varies by state, but July and August generally produce the sweetest, most colorful fruit. Adjusting consumption to watermelon season increases chances of buying ripe, flavorful melons.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]