Stay Connected with NWA

Discover the latest news and updates from the National Watermelon Association, featuring press releases, blog posts, industry insights, and updates on key policy areas. Stay informed and connected with the latest developments in the watermelon industry.

The Weekly Rind is the weekly update from the NWA that goes straight to your inbox! It gives you a heads up to everything going on in the NWA and everything that we are doing for you!   Click here for advertising opportunities.

Quarterly magazine of the National Watermelon Association. The Vineline has the latest industry news and quarterly updates from our National Watermelon Queen and our chapter queens.

 On the Vine is our weekly news brief that goes straight to your inbox every week. This weekly news brief has all the latest watermelon news from all over the world!

Latest News

Type

Category

    Our hearts are with those impacted by the hurricanes. The Florida Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program offers low-interest or interest-free loans to farmers and aquaculture producers affected by natural disasters.   To qualify, applicants must own a genuine farm operation or lease sovereign submerged land in designated counties. The…

  NWA is proud to endorse the newly introduced H.R. 9263, the Supporting Innovation in Agriculture Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide tax incentives to help specialty crop producers, including watermelon growers, adopt innovative farming technologies. By supporting this bill, NWA aims to strengthen the resilience of U.S. agriculture and enhance food security across the…

A vibrant celebration of the American watermelon industry just in time for the fall season! In this issue, you’ll find inspiring updates from the National Watermelon Queen and insightful state reports highlighting their hard work. NWA takes a look at how we can serve members as labor regulations challenge our members. We’ll also take a…

NIFA is recruiting industry representatives (growers, packers, shippers, staff from organizations that represent specialty crops, etc.) to review pre-applications for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) for 2025. This is an opportunity for commodity sectors to make sure that SCRI projects are tackling a critical need for the sector.  The time commitment for a relevancy reviewer is…

Counties affected by Hurricane Debby are eligible for payments under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI), providing over $200 million in financial aid to farmers and rural communities. Producers in affected counties will receive HIP-WI indemnity payments in the coming weeks without needing to file a claim. HIP-WI covers part of the deductible of the…

More than 500 agricultural stakeholder organizations sent a letter to key legislative leaders urging the swift passage of the 2024 farm bill by the end of the year. The letter emphasized the critical need for bipartisan action to finalize the bill within the current Congress, warning of the logistical and political challenges of delaying it…

The watermelon industry is facing new challenges with the identification of two new viruses, WCLaV-1 and WCLaV-2, in GA fields. These viruses, first reported in China and now found in several countries including the USA, cause symptoms such as yellow mottling, chlorosis, and stunted growth. Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus, supported by…

The National Watermelon Association (NWA) has submitted comments to the Federal Register in support of the National Watermelon Promotion Board’s (NWPB) proposed assessment increase. We encourage NWA members to view our submitted comments and participate in the process by submitting their own. Your input is crucial to support our industry’s growth and success. Read More

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released the proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rule for outdoor and indoor work settings. The rule would require employers to develop a heat injury and illness prevention plan, identify hazards, and implement control measures based on specific heat levels. Stay tuned for updates on this developing…

Here at NWA HQ, we’re used to friends, family, and consumers asking us all about watermelons, and frequently, the “how did they get rid of the seeds?” question comes up.  This article is one of the better representations of that process, in a short, easy to digest format, dating back to the late 1930s, when…

Texas watermelon growers are having a successful season in the Rio Grande Valley and Winter Garden despite facing pests, disease, and hail challenges. The hot weather led to top-quality, sweet watermelons with increased weight and better sugar content. Some production was moved from the dry Rio Grande Valley to the Winter Garden. Also, watermelon harvests…

Monica, Tami, and George of the NWA team had the privilege of visiting Jim Rash, Inc. in Lake Wales, FL. We were warmly greeted by Bobby and Jill Barton, the dynamic duo who took over the farm following an acquisition in 2005. It was an incredible opportunity for the staff to learn about their operation…

Resources