Watermelons, the holy grail of Knox County

Watermelons, watermelons, watermelons EVERYWHERE!  When I drive out to the farm, I pass three family farms knee deep in watermelons.  I am just amazed every time to see watermelons growing here and so, so many of them.  It's not like these farmers have just started growing melons.  For some reason, I am just now really paying attention to them.  Knox County, specifically Decker, IN, is known for their melons. I "Googled" Decker Melons and here is what I came up with (http://my-indiana-home.com/deckermelon/)

What is a Decker melon? Only one of the sweetest, juiciest, heftiest, most sought-after melons in Indiana you can sink your teeth into on a hot summer afternoon. But Decker is not a variety of melon. The moniker refers to the town (population 249) – and its environs in southern Knox County, Indiana – where these highly reputed cantaloupes (technically, muskmelons) and watermelons are grown. It’s a Decker art and tradition that spans more than 100 years. The area’s temperate climate and perfectly sandy soil, along with the knowledge, expertise and love that has been passed from generation to generation, turn out melons so good they taste like a cool bite of heaven.

Sadly, there is very little cantaloupe grown in Knox County for purchase anymore. According to several articles that I have read, demand is down and government regulations are up which equals a crop that farmers can make very little money on.  I am happy to report that I have enjoyed some amazing cantaloupe from the weekly farmers market but am sorry for all of you that can no longer enjoy this sweet taste of summer.

So I just have to share some pics that I took of how the watermelons are transported.  Many watermelon growers still use tractors to pull wagons of melons from the field, then to the farm for processing.  The challenge with the wagon is that during transportation, you can lose watermelons and also you are only able to transport a small amount.

What I have started to see over the last several years are converted school buses being used to haul melons.  Farmers can haul more and the melons are protected better from the sun and from falling out of the vehicle.  Pretty mind blowing isn't it?!

With the evolution of machinery and farm equipment, I thought surely melons were planted, taken care of and harvested by some type of machine.  Well they are...the machine is called a human.  Many melons are still planted by hand and tended too by people just like you and me.  Larger farms have migrant workers that come and turn vines and also the melons as they grow.  Many farmers employee high school and college age kiddos who are home on break for the summer.  When it is time to pick the melons, they are done by hand.  I have heard many stories from nieces and nephews as well as Tony and his siblings about working in the melon fields in the summer.  Sounds like a perfect place for my kids when they become old enough to work.  Ha!  Ha!

I encourage all of you who live in and around Indiana to seek out Knox County melons.  I know that the Mouzin Brothers Farm sells to Kroger (http://www.mouzinbrothers.com/).  You may also see Decker Melon signs but I caution you to make sure that they are grown in Decker.  I do know that some packers and distributors in the area redistribute melons from Georgia and other areas in the southeast and market them as Decker melons.  Not the same people!  Hope you can embrace and enjoy this wonderful summer fruit while it lasts.