Record-breaking number of entries watermelon carving contest

More than 100 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.

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.

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. Click here to view the complete list of winning carvings.

For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.