This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = watermelon(GDF v2.0, 3380 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Watermelon |
| Scientific name | Citrullus lanatus |
| Family / Genus | Cucurbitaceae / Citrullus |
| Produce category | Cucurbit |
| Produce subcategory | Melon |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4032 |
| PLU — organic | 94032 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_8311 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 200.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crimson Sweet | 18% | Classic round-oblong shape, dark green with lighter stripes, bright red flesh, high sugar content (11-12°Brix), black seeds, 20-25 lbs. Excellent shipping quality and flavor balance. Industry standard |
| Allsweet | 12% | Elongated shape, light green with dark stripes, bright red flesh, excellent sweetness (11-13°Brix), disease-resistant, 25-30 lbs. Superior Fusarium wilt resistance. Popular in southeastern US. |
| Jubilee | 10% | Large oblong fruit, light green with dark green stripes, sweet red flesh, 25-40 lbs. Excellent heat tolerance. Long-standing commercial variety with consistent performance. |
| Seedless Trio (Tri-X-313 type) | 35% | Seedless (triploid), oval shape, dark green with light stripes, red flesh, 10-15 lbs, 11-13°Brix. Represents multiple proprietary seedless hybrids. Fastest-growing market segment. |
| Mini Seedless (Personal Size) | 8% | Seedless, round to oval, 5-8 lbs, red flesh, 12-14°Brix, thin rind. Includes varieties like ‘Mini Love’ and ‘Petite Perfection’. Rapid growth in single-serve market. |
| Sugar Baby | 5% | Small round icebox type, 8-10 lbs, solid dark green rind, deep red flesh, very sweet (11-13°Brix), small seeds. Popular home garden and specialty market variety. |
| Yellow/Orange Flesh Varieties | 3% | Yellow to orange flesh, seedless or seeded, 10-20 lbs, 10-12°Brix, unique appearance. Includes ‘Yellow Crimson’, ‘Desert Gold’. Niche premium market. |
| Charleston Gray | 4% | Long cylindrical shape, light greenish-gray rind, red flesh, 28-35 lbs. Excellent disease resistance and storage. Classic shipping variety, declining but still commercially relevant. |
| Sangria | 3% | Seedless hybrid, elongated oval, dark green with medium stripes, deep red flesh, 16-20 lbs, 12-13°Brix. Excellent uniformity and shipping quality. Growing commercial variety. |
| Moon and Stars | 2% | Dark green rind with distinctive yellow spots (stars) and larger blotches (moons), red or yellow flesh, 20-40 lbs. Specialty/farmers market variety with collector appeal. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 31.3°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 3 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.2 μL/kg·hr typical (0.1–0.5) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Safe to transport with most commodities; does not require ethylene-free environment
Mixed-load compatibility
Group_VII_Melons_Squash
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable to slight growth; per capita consumption approximately 15-16 lbs annually. Strong summer seasonality with July 4th peak. Growing interest in mini/personal sizes and premium varieties with unique flesh colors.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.65 |
| Income elasticity | 0.35 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Seedless (Diploid/Triploid) | 85% |
| Mini/Personal Seedless | 10% |
| Seeded | 3% |
| Yellow/Orange Flesh | 2% |
Pack sizes
- 36-count (large, 18-22 lbs each)
- 45-count (medium-large, 15-18 lbs each)
- 60-count (medium, 12-15 lbs each)
- Personal/Mini 6-count (4-6 lbs each)
- Personal/Mini 9-count (3-5 lbs each)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
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