Wacky World of Watermelon JAPAN GROWS THEM SQUARE!
 Japan has again shown off one of its greatest innovations - square watermelons. For years consumers struggled to fit the large round fruit in their refrigerators. And then there was the problem of trying to cut the fruit when it kept rolling around.
But 20 years ago a forward-thinking farmer on Japan's south-western island of Shikoku solved the problem. The farmer, from Zentsuji in Kagawa prefecture, came up with the idea of making a cube-shaped watermelon which could easily be packed and stored. To make it happen, farmers grew the melons in glass boxes and the fruit then naturally assumed the same shape.
Today the cuboid watermelons are hand-picked and shipped all over Japan. But the fruit, on sale in a selection of department stores and upmarket supermarkets, appeals mainly to the wealthy and fashion-conscious of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan's two major cities. Each melon sells for 10,000 yen, equivalent to about US$83. It is almost double, or even triple, that of a normal watermelon.
Credit Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news
Square watermelons are put on display in Zentsuji, Japan. © BBC
AT CHINCHILLA THEY SKI IN THEM!
 Watermelon skiing is just one of the many wild and wacky activities undertaken at the Chinchilla Melon Festival in Queensland. Chinchilla produces 25% of all the melons sold in Australia and celebrates every two years with the now well known Chinchilla Melon Festival. Over 1000 watermelons, rockmelons and honeydews are provided throughout the festival for melon skiing, melon eating and melon games.
The Melon Games which include Melon Bungy, Melon Bullseye, Melon Feasting and the hilarious Melon Skiing are held on the Saturday of the festival weekend.
The highlight of the 2007 festival was an attempt at the world record of “Splitting Watermelons” which was adjudicated by Mr Chris Sheedy from Guinness World Records.
29-year-old John Allwood, a local melon picker, head-butted 40 watermelons in less than a minute to claim the title of world champion.
The next Chinchilla Melon Festival takes place from 19-22 February 2009. Visit the festival website for more details on how you can join in this great family festival event ......
OTHER WEIRD WATERMELON FACTS
A gentleman named Jim Reeves holds the world record for eating Watermelon. He ate 6.0 kilograms in 15 minutes at Brookville Community Picnic, USA on July 30, 2005.
For more weird eating records...... CLICK HERE
In China and Japan, watermelon is a popular gift to bring a host when you visit their home.
China is now the biggest producer of watermelons in the world.
A watermelon was once thrown at Roman Governor Demosthenes during a political debate. Placing the watermelon upon his head, he thanked the thrower for providing him with a helmet to wear as he fought Philip of Macedonia.
Contrary to popular belief, eating the black seeded watermelon seeds does not cause a watermelon to grow in your stomach!
Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown worldwide.
Every part of a watermelon is edible, even the seeds and skin.
The word "watermelon" first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615.
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