Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Nueces County FCH

Happy National Farmer’s Day! 🌾

Today and everyday, we celebrate the hardworking men and women who grow our food, care for our livestock and support the backbone of our communities. Farmers play a vital role in Texas and across the nation, providing the resources we rely on every day.

Thank you to all the farmers whose dedication, expertise and perseverance help feed families and strengthen communities. Your work truly makes a difference!

Only 8 spots left for this one day workshop!

"Our ALERT Program - Active Learning for Emergency Response Teams - provides community health education for all emergency responders." Contact your local Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office to learn about how the program can be conducted in your area. "

If you have been following along in August for all our tasty watermelon recipes, information and tips here a few FUN FACTS to finish out the month!

1) Watermelon’s official name is Citrullus Lanatus of the botanical family Cucurbitaceae. It is cousins to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.

2) The first cookbook published in the United States in 1796, American Cookery by Amelia Simmons, contains a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.

3) According to Guinness World Records, the world’s heaviest watermelon was grown by Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tennessee in 2013, weighing in at 350.5 lbs.

4) In China and Japan, watermelon is a popular gift to bring a host.

Enjoy!

Store Well, Waste Less
*Whole melons can be kept at room temperature for 7 to 10 days. They ripen very little after picking and begin to lose flavor and texture with longer storage.
*Refrigerate just before eating if desired.
*Rinse melon under running water before cutting.
*Cut watermelon can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Put in a covered container or cover the cut surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Looking for lunch ideas? Try this salad that you can make ahead of time, store in the refrigerator and take for lunch next week!

Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts per 1 cup: calories: 51, carbohydrates: 11.5 g, protein: 1 g, fat:

The Dairy Snack Innovation Competition, presented by Dairy MAX, challenges high school students to create an original dairy-based snack that connects with their generation. It’s a unique blend of culinary creativity, nutrition, and marketing — and a fun way to inspire innovative thinking around dairy and healthy snacking.
The best part?
💰 Scholarships of up to $10,000 are available for winning entries
📎 Flyer attached – perfect to share directly with students
🗓️ Deadline: Friday, September 19, 2025
For more info follow this link: https://www.dairymax.org/dairy-snack-innovation-competition

How do you choose a watermelon? There are four basic types of watermelon: seedless, picnic, icebox, and yellow/orange fleshed. The watermelon should be firm and free from bruises, cuts, and dents. Watermelons consist of 92% water. Therefore, the watermelon should weigh from 5-30 lbs. A creamy yellow spot indicates the area where the watermelon was sitting on the ground and was ripening in the sun. Tap the outside and listen for a light and almost hollow sounding thud; this indicates that the water and fruit are intact and has a stable structure.

Looking for a cool and tasty treat? Try our Creamy Watermelon Sherbet this weekend!

Did you KNOW? Based on information from Iowa State University Extension and Oregon State University Food Hero:
Today the U.S. is the fourth ranked country in the world growing watermelons with 44 states growing the fruit, predominantly in Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Arizona. Watermelons are grown in rows in sand or sandy loams. Bees pollinate the watermelon plant and one month later a vine is produced. A melon is produced and is ready to be harvested within 90 days. The harvest is done by hand due to the watermelon's fragile surface. The peak production occurs in May, June, July, and August, but watermelons can be found from April through November. There are many varieties of watermelons and 1200 varieties are grown worldwide. In the United States, about 200-300 varieties can be found of which 50 are popular.

Try this tasty and nutritious salad this weekend!

We're excited to announce the upcoming 26th Annual Grandparents & Other Relatives Raising Children Conference — a day dedicated to empowering and supporting grandparents who are stepping up to raise the next generation.

We're currently seeking sponsors to help us provide vital resources, tools, and support to these incredible caregivers.

✨ Make a difference. Become a sponsor today. Space is limited, register early. Deadline to register is Monday, August 25th.
📩 Register here or scan the QR Code below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScg3q_qxpeRJSe2kXf_QXQXjHXlYYyjdwr89N6B1dYynBkF5g/viewform