Celebrate Watermelon Day June 14 at the Volusia County Farmers Market in DeLand

Photos for Headline Surfer / Savannah Christensen, shown above is Florida's 2017 Watermelon Queen. She will be on hand for the Watermelon Day celebration on June 14 in DeLand, Florida. 
YouTube download / Funny Moments video / Dogs, cats, turtles, rabbits and other animalcritters love watermelon as shown in this awesomely-cute video clip.
 
By HENRY FREDERICK
Headline Surfer

DELAND, Fla. -- Florida Watermelon Queen Savannah Christensen will welcome guests at a Watermelon Day celebration June 14, at the Volusia County Farmers Market, 3050 E. New York Ave.

The event is planned to run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. that Wednesday, with "activities that include seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests," Pat Kuehn, a Volusia County marketing specialist, told Headline Surfer.

Kuehn added, "Vendors and county extension agents will offer free samples. Children can pick up coloring books and stickers."

The event is planned to run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. that Wednesday, with "activities that include seed-spitting and watermelon-eating contests," Pat Kuehn, a Volusia County marketing specialist shown here, told Headline Surfer.

Kuehn added, "Vendors and county extension agents will offer free samples. Children can pick up coloring books and stickers."

Savannah Christensen, 21-year-old daughter of Elizabeth Christensen, was crowned the 2017 Florida Watermelon Queen during the 49th annual Florida Watermelon Association Convention back on Jan 13-15, at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.

The reigning watermelon queen attends the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she also is a member of the National Honor Society and is on the Dean’s List. She likes to spend her spare time drawing, cooking, baking, and reading. Christensen also likes to volunteer and participate in community services in her community.

As Florida Watermelon Queen, Cristensen travels throughout the US and Canada, serving as a spokesperson for the watermelon industry. Christensen will hold the state title for one year and in February 2018 will represent Florida for the title of the National Watermelon Queen.

Watermelon Day is sponsored by the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension, Volusia County Farm Bureau and the Florida Watermelon Promotion Board. 

For more information, please contact Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent Karen Stauderman at 386-822-5778 or you can email her at kstauderman@ufl.edu.

And for information regarding an appearance of the Florida Watermelon Queen in a community event in your local community, please send inquiries via email to Florida Watermelon Promotions Coordinator Debra Harrison at debra@flfwa.com.​

FAST FACTS: Food for thought
• Watermelon contains more of the antioxidant lycopene than fresh tomatoes; one cup of watermelon has 1.5 times the lycopene as a raw tomato.
• L-citrulline, an amino acid in watermelon, seems to protect against muscle pain.
• Watermelon rind is edible and actually contains more of the amino acid citrulline than the pink flesh; citrulline is converted to arginine in your kidneys, which is important for heart and immune system health.
• New research showed citrulline and arginine supplements derived from watermelon extract lead to significant improvements in blood pressure and cardiac stress in obese study participants.
• Watermelon contains cucurbitacin E, or tripterpenoid, which blocks the activity of the pain and inflammation-causing enzyme cyclooxygenase -- the same enzyme blocked by COX-2 inhibitor drugs.
• Watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the US (followed by cantaloupe and honeydew) and is considered both a fruit abnd a vegetable.
• A cousin to cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash, watermelon is thought to have originated in Egypt close to 5,000 years ago, where it is depicted in hieroglyphics. Source: http://articles.mercola.com/.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Guinness World Records, the world's heaviest watermelon was grown by Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tenn. in 2013, weighing in at 350.5 lbs. Want to more about how Kent grew a giant watermelon? Check out part one, part two and part three of an interview with him.Source: http://www.watermelon.org/Watermelon-101.