LONG PROMO:   Every produce item will tell you a little bit about itself if you know what to look for and to listen for.  Hey, it’s watermelon season, it’s summertime, so we are going to unlock the secret of picking out the best watermelon on the face of the planet…next week, with me, Michael Marks, Your Produce Man.

SHORT PROMO:  Unlocking the secret of the watermelon…next week with me, Michael Marks, Your Produce Man.
                                                                                                         
WATERMELON (PART I) (Monday, May 26):  Hey, better turn on the recorder, we are going to teach you how to pick out the best watermelon on the face of the planet for today’s Memorial Day picnics or for this summer’s picnics.  The first thing you’re going to want to look for - take a look at that.  See how it is not symmetrical in shape.  It is small on one end, big on the other end.  You do not want that watermelon.  This watermelon, the bees did not pollinate it very well. That’s why it is small on one end.  One-third of this watermelon you’re going to have to throw away.  No sugar.  No flavor.  The next thing you’re going to look for - turn it right over to where it sits on the ground.  See that?  It’s turning the color of butter.  That’s a good sign.  If it’s white, you don’t want it.  The next thing you’re going to do.  Look right there.  Take a look at that.  Do you see that black crystallized sugar around there?   That is such a good sign.  You know, sugar is carbon and when it’s heated up like to the sun, it turns black.  That means there is so much sugar in here it oozed out.  That’s a very good sign.  There’s one more thing.  I’ll tell you that tomorrow.  I’m Michael Marks…Your Produce Man.   

TEASE:  Hey, in my next Produce Man report, ring around the collar you don’t want, but ring around the vine you do want.

WATERMELON (PART II) (Tuesday, May 27): Hey, you know Clint Eastwood turns 78 this week so just like what he would say, “Make my day!”  Pick out a good watermelon!  So you walk up to that big bin of watermelon.  I’ve seen it.  You’ve seen it.   People go up to that thing, they look at it, and then they do this [thumps watermelon], and I walk up to them and say, “Hey, is anybody home?”  Why in the world do you thump the watermelon?   I know most people are saying, “Okay, I want a hollow sound.”  Can you please describe to me a hollow sound?  Probably not.  Well, and what if you were deaf?  You would never ever in a million years be able to pick out a watermelon ever again if you were listening for a hollow sound.  Well, here is a secret.  Are you ready for this?  Sound waves can be heard, and sound waves can be felt.  So you hold that watermelon in your bottom hand just like that, and you thump the watermelon.   If it vibrates in your bottom hand, that means that watermelon is solid through and through.  I’m Michael Marks…Your Produce Man.   

TEASE: Hey, in my next Produce Man report…the beach boys would say, “Listen for those good vibrations.”

WATERMELON (PART III) (Wednesday, May 28):  Right here, one of the most popular watermelons.  Take a look at this.  Take a look at this.  It says “Seedless” right there.   That’s right.  It’s become one of the most popular melons in the world…not just here but in the world.  In fact about half…more than half of the watermelons we eat here in the United States, they are indeed seedless.  Now how in the world do they make a seedless watermelon.  Have you ever wondered that?  Well, here’s what you do.  You take a diploid and cross it with a tetraploid and you come up with a triploid.  It’s genetics.   You cross a horse (that’s the diploid) with a donkey (that’s the tetraploid) and you come up with a mule in the middle - has no seeds and does not reproduce.  Have you ever seen a seedless watermelon that has some seeds in it?  Well, those are seedless watermelons that are pollinated right next to a row of seeded watermelons.  See, these actually have seeds in them.  They’re just immature seeds.  Now, because they are immature, they don’t put out as much sugar content.  Sugar content comes from the seeds.  That’s why a seeded watermelon always tastes sweeter.  I’m Michael Marks…Your Produce Man.  

TEASE: Hey, in my next Produce Man report, have you ever wondered, “How do they make a seedless watermelon?”

WATERMELON (PART IV) (Thursday, May 29):  As soon as you get your watermelon home, here’s what I want you to do.  You wash it and then cut off the north pole and the south pole.  Take the top third of your knife and go right around.  Now this is called some fancy French name, you know, for cutting around the circumference of a piece of fruit.  I don’t know what it’s called.  I’m just cutting the rind off.  That’s what I call it.  Now what you’re going to do, are you ready for this?  You’re going to cut this into long planks – big, long, flat planks.  You’re going to take this and cut it into long spears.  You with me so far?  Now, you take this…oh, isn’t that cool.  You put this cut up little spears into a tupperware dish.  I guarantee you, this summer you and your family will eat so much watermelon and it’s so good for you!  It replenishes all the vitamin A you need in your body, potassium, all the juice - you ever wonder why its so juicy?  Because we need juice in the summertime!  I’m Michael Marks…Your Produce Man.  (Takes Bite)  Mmmm.

TEASE:  Hey, in my next Produce Man report, how to get this melon all cut up really nice and simple.
 
WATERMELON (PART V) (Friday, May 30):  All right. Yesterday I showed you when you get your watermelon home how to cut it up.  Let’s say you’re buying a watermelon today and you’re going out for a picnic.  Here’s what you can do at a picnic.  It’s really fun and very simple, and the kids love it.  You basically cut the watermelon in half. First of all, you wash the watermelon, right.  That’s because it grows in dirt.  Now what you’re going to do, you’re going to cut this just like so and you keep the rind on especially when you’re out at a picnic.  This is really cool.  You keep the rind on.  Now, you’re going to turn it around just like so, and now you’re going to cut it down like this.  Let me show you what you end up with.  Oh, the kids love this.  My little Lincoln and Landon – they’ll eat this all day long out at a picnic.  See what you’ve done?  You’ve cut this and you’ve left this cute little handle down here at the bottom so when you’re on a picnic, this is a really cool thing.  You just eat this down and you get to throw the rind away.  Mmmm (Takes bite)  That is so good and it’s so simple.  I’m Michael Marks…Your Produce Man.  (Take bite)

TEASE:  Hey, in my next Produce Man report, cutting the watermelon for your picnics.