Watermelon industry sweet for Hoosier farmers; generated $45 million in 2015 revenue

They said despite a wet growing season last year, watermelon production was great.

Mike Horrall, IWA president and owner of Oaktown's Melon Acres, said about 335,000 pounds of watermelon came out of Indiana in 2015. The state was listed as fifth in the nation in watermelon production, he said, generating about $45 million in revenue for Hoosier farmers.

Also last year, Horrall said the IWA secured a grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to aid growers in meeting the rising cost of mandated food safety measures. About $30,000, he said, will be distributed to Knox County growers and shippers this year.

“That's just a good way for us to extend a helping hand to those who do most of the work,” Horrall said.

The group is also looking ahead to its annual convention, to be held in French Lick on March 4-5.

Lorinda Ellerman, a chamber board member and coordinator of the IWA's queen program, encouraged women between the ages of 18 and 23 to register for the upcoming competition. The deadline to register, she said, is Feb. 8.

The reigning Illiana Watermelon Queen is Lindsey Hampton of Avon, and Knox County's own Emily Brown is the reigning National Watermelon Queen after serving as the IWA queen in 2014.