LAUREL — In the world of watermelon, Sussex County may be considered the center of the universe and western Sussex in particular.
Take it from The Delmarva Farmer, a weekly agricultural newspaper based in Easton, Maryland. It stated, “If you draw a 30-mile circle with Laurel, Del., in the middle, you would have more than 90% of the watermelon acreage in the region: Sussex County, and Wicomico, Caroline and Dorchester counties in Maryland.”
Some farms in this watermelon hot spot devote hundreds of acres to growing the fruit. According to the Delaware Department of Agriculture:
- Delaware and Maryland represent two of the top 10 watermelon-producing states in the country, with a combined 2 million per year.
- In 2024, about 5,600 acres were harvested for the fruit in the First State.
- Peak watermelon season in Delaware is July through mid-October.
Production of the sweet treat is so big here that, in 1965, industry supporters and growers founded the Maryland Delaware Watermelon Association. It’s dedicated to increasing demand for watermelons grown in the two states…