may 20, 1576 - First Watermelon planted in America

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In the year 1576, Watermelon was first planted in the Americas in what was known as Spanish Florida. Watermelons originated 5,000 years ago in Africa, but like every other crop, it significantly expanded all over the world. It was the Spanish settlers who brought them to the Americas. This is what started the watermelon’s popular trend that we know today. Florida was a great foundation for the watermelon’s introduction to the Americas because, today, it is the state with the highest watermelon production and longest yearly production period.
I think it is important to know where the food we eat today comes from and the background it carries with it. This tropical fruit is one of my favorite summer snacks, so I was interested in doing a little more research on it. Watermelon also fits into this class perfectly because we are talking about material goods back in the Early Modern days, and watermelon was a popular commodity at that time.

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