WATERMELON (Monday, August 11): Let’s get this straight, right from the beginning. The Watermelon is not really a melon. It’s actually the largest berry in the world. Your Produce Man’s definition of berry is simple, “a multi-celled fruit with many seeds.” When you cut a Cantaloupe in half, where are all the seeds? That’s right, all in the middle, in the seed cavity. When you cut a Honeydew in half, where are all the seeds? In the middle. A Crenshaw? In the middle. When you cut a Watermelon in half, where are the seeds? All over. It’s a “multi-celled fruit with many seeds,” a berry. The Watermelon originated in Africa’s Kalahari Desert. Watermelons love the heat and the dry climate. That’s why the hotter areas of the United States grows the best and the most Watermelons. Watermelons came to the United States during the darkest part of our history. As African slaves were brought to the U.S., they brought with them their culture of food, including the Watermelon. Many of those slave ships landed in Florida. Florida today grows about 50% of our Watermelons. Texas is second, with about 25%, followed by California, Arizona and Georgia. Between Florida and Texas, the Bush brothers, Gov. Jeb Bush and President Bush, they control 75% of the Watermelon market in the United States. By the way, Pres. Bush’s favorite fruit…is indeed the Watermelon. Which Pres. Bush? Both 41 and 43. By the way, America grows about 4 billion pounds of Watermelon every year. China, however, grows 126 billion pounds a year!

WATERMELON (Tuesday, August 12): Watermelons are loaded with Lycopene, a very powerful antioxidant. Lycopene is the compound that gives the red color to Watermelon, to Tomatoes and Red Grapefruit. In fact, the redder the fruit, the more Lycopene. Most people are aware of the connection of Lycopene and Tomatoes, but in order to get the Lycopene benefits, the Tomatoes have to be cooked, as in a sauce. Watermelon, on the other hand, because of its cell structure, the lycopene is very accessible upon consumption. You do know what an antioxidant is, don’t you? Well, let me give you the “Your Produce Man” story of an antioxidant. When we breathe, we take in oxygen. It’s chemical name is O2. Those oxygen molecules go into your bloodstream and help move food around your body in a very efficient way. Well, sometimes, one of those O molecules gets lost in your body. It grows up to become a teenager. They are called “free radicals.” When you give the keys to car to your teenager, you wonder if they will bump into anything. Well, the free radicals in your body begin bumping into your cell structure. If they bump enough times in the same place, you get cancer. The antioxidant is the “mother” that goes into your body to find that lost teenager, and gets it out of your body. Lycopene is keen, and it’s can be consumed the best…in Watermelon. Men who have high levels of Lycopene, studies show that they have a 45% less chance of prostate cancer. Cut your risks in half, by eating your share of Watermelon.

WATERMELON MARGARITA (Wednesday, August 13): You’re going to love this recipe. You can make it with real rum if you like, but since I don’t drink, I just used Imitation Rum Extract and Imitation Coconut Extract, along with the shredded Coconut, fresh lime juice and of course, fresh Watermelon and ice. To make the glass really special, cut a lime in half and squeeze lime juice around the top edge of the glass, inside and out. Get some superfine sugar and pour some into a bowl. Then take the glass, turn it upside down, and shake it into the bowl. You can put the glass into the freezer for a few minutes before you serve your Margarita. This is a very refreshing recipe.

WATERMELON NAPOLEON (Thursday, August 14): General Napoleon was a brilliant military strategist. One of his most famous strategies was to “stack” the offense with lines of soldiers. Wave after wave of soldiers then take on the enemy in a seemingly never ending force. In the culinary world, a Napoleon is a “stacked” recipe. Here, we do it with Watermelon. Mix some small cooked shrimp with Mayonnaise. Chop up about a tablespoon of Fresh Baby Dill and add it in. Put the shrimp mixture on a layer of Watermelon, followed by another piece of Watermelon, more shrimp, more Watermelon. You could cut the Watermelon into a heart shape. Makes it even more special. To top off the Napoleon, put a little of your shrimp mixture, then get two larger cooked shrimp. If you put them together just right, they make the shape of a heart. Then top with a sprig of Baby Dill.

WATERMELON SALSA (Friday, August 15): We end our week of Watermelon with a hot Watermelon Salsa. How simple is this. Chop up some Pineapple, Red Onions and Watermelon. Add some Cilantro and Jalapeno peppers, salt and pepper. Then get some Salmon. Grill it. Top it with our Watermelon Salsa. It’s heaven…one bite at a time.