56 • November / December 2026• abasto.com Florida 20,6 % California 13.3 % COURTESY OF USDA/CHARTS OF NOTE Watermelon is a very popu- lar fresh fruit, with avai- lability peaking just in time for summer, though it is available year-round. In 2024, watermelon ranked third in per capita availability of fresh fruit in the U.S., behind only bananas and apples. With just over 15 pounds avai- lable per person, watermelon availability is double that of all other melon varieties combined. Watermelon’s popularity is su- pported by robust domestic pro- duction, spanning more than 100,000 acres nationwide. In 2025, the United States produced 3,870 million pounds of watermelons. Georgia surpas- sed Florida as the leading water- melon-producing state in 2025, with production reaching 813 million pounds and accounting for 21% of total U.S. production. Georgia’s production increa- sed year over year because of both expanded planted acre- age and above-average yields in 2025. Florida produced 798 million pounds of watermelon, accounting for 20.6% of produc- tion. California, Texas, North Carolina, and Indiana collecti- vely accounted for an additional 44.4% of production last year. As a warm-season crop, wa- termelon cultivation in the Uni- ted States begins in the spring and ends in early fall, with ship- ments typically peaking around July. To supplement year-round availability, fresh watermelons are also imported; imports peak seasonally in May and rise again in October as the domestic sea- son comes to a close. In 2025, imports totaled 1,800 million pounds, accounting for 34% of the domestic supply. Watermelon Production in the U.S. Reached 3,870 Million Pounds in 2025 Percentage of U.S. Watermelon Production by State, 2025 Sources: USDA, Economic Research Service, based on data from the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Annual Vegetable Survey. Note: Other states surveyed include: Arizona, South Carolina, Maryland, and Delaware. North Carolina 10.4 % Indiana 8.6 % Other states 14.0 % Georgia 21.0 % Texas 12.2 % • AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY