(USDA) Has Announced Two Major Relief Programs for Farmers and Rural Communities That Have Been Negatively Affected by Weather Disasters in Recent Years

TAMPA, FL 33634 www.watermelon.ag

the Fall 2019

Official Newsletter of the NATIONAL WATERMELON ASSOCIATION

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced two major relief programs for farmers and rural communities that have been negatively affected by weather disasters in recent years. USDA’s commitment to provide support/relief to farmers and rural communities when they are in need is evident with these programs. USDA to Provide $150 Million to Help Rural Communities Affected by Natural Disasters

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that agricultural producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Dorian, can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). Signup for this U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will began Sept. 11, 2019. USDA Resources Available for “U.S. agriculture has been dealt a hefty blow by extreme weather over the last several years, and 2019 is no exception,” Perdue said. “The scope of this year’s prevented planting alone is devastating, and although these disaster program benefits will not make producers Farmers Hurt by Disasters whole, we hope the assistance will ease some of the financial strain farmers, ranchers and their families are experiencing. President Trump has the backs of our farmers, and we are U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce working to support America’s great patriot farmers.” Lammers announced that USDA is making $150 million in grants available through the Community Facilities Program to help rural communities continue their recovery from the More than $3 billion is available through the disaster relief package passed by Congress devastating effects of hurricanes, fires and other natural disasters. and signed by President Trump in early June. WHIP+ builds on the successes of its predecessor program the 2017 Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) The grants may be used for relief in areas affected by Hurricanes Michael and Florence; that was authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. In addition, the relief package wildfires in 2018; and other natural disasters where FEMA has provided a notice declaring included new programs to cover losses for milk dumped or removed from the commercial a Major Disaster Declaration and assigned a FEMA disaster recovery (DR) number. market and losses of eligible farm stored commodities due to eligible disaster events in 2018 and 2019. Also, prevented planting supplemental disaster payments will provide sup- Grant applications will be accepted at USDA state offices on a continual basis until funds port to producers who were prevented from planting eligible crops for the 2019 crop year. are exhausted.

Eligibility More than 100 types of projects are eligible for Community Facilities funding. Eligible applicants include municipalities, public bodies, nonprofit organizations and federally rec- WHIP+ will be available for eligible producers who have suffered eligible losses of certain ognized Native American tribes. Projects must be in eligible rural areas with a population crops, trees, bushes or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declara- of 20,000 or less. tion or a Secretarial Disaster Designation (primary counties only). Disaster losses must have been a result of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; or wildfires that occurred in 2018 or 2019. Also, producers in counties that did not received community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet a disaster declaration or designation may still apply for WHIP+ but must provide support- access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. ing documentation to establish that the crops were directly affected by a qualifying disaster loss.

A list of counties that received qualifying disaster declarations and designations is available through USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) Actuarial Information Browser at able at farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus. Because grazing and livestock losses, other than webapp.rma.usda.gov/apps/actuarialinformationbrowser. milk losses, are covered by other disaster recovery programs offered through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), those losses are not eligible for WHIP+. Eligibility will be determined for each producer based on the size of the loss and the level of insurance coverage elected by the producer. A WHIP+ factor will be determined for each General Eligibility and Payment Limitations crop based on a producer’s coverage level. Producers who elected higher coverage levels will receive a higher WHIP+ factor. WHIP+ is only designed to provide assistance for production losses, however, if quality was taken into consideration under federal crop insurance or the Noninsured Crop Disaster The WHIP+ payment factor ranges from 75 percent to 95 percent, depending on the level Assistance Program (NAP) policy, where production was further adjusted, the adjusted of crop insurance coverage or NAP coverage that a producer obtained for the crop. Produc- production will be used in calculating assistance under this program. ers who did not insure their crops in 2018 or 2019 will receive 70 percent of the expected value of the crop. Insured crops (either crop insurance or NAP coverage) will receive be- Eligible crops include those for which federal crop insurance or NAP coverage is available, tween 75 percent and 95 percent of expected value; those who purchased the highest levels excluding crops intended for grazing. A list of crops covered by crop insurance is avail- of coverage will receive 95-percent of the expected value.

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National Watermelon Association, InIInc.c 190 Fitzgerald Road• Suite #3 • Lakeland, Florida 33813 (863) 619-7575 office • (863) 619-7577 fax www.watermelon.ag

The VinelineVineline is publishedpu quarterly by the National Watermelon Association, serving our members Nationwide since 1914. All rightsgp reserved, except where otherwise noted. WATERMELON LOAD DONORS 2019 Browning & Sons Capital City Fruit Coosaw Farms Eagle Eye Produce Gibson Produce Schmieding Produce Jackson Farming Kirschenman Enterprises Melon 1 Mesilla Valley Produce Pappas Family Farms Southern Corp Packers Van Groningen & Sons Warren Produce Cactus Melon / Big Chuy Celli Brothers DMC Farms Frey Farms Giumarra Companies Healthy Harvest Kids Choice Leger & Son Melon Acres McMelon Premier Melon Sunstate Produce Vincent Farms Wiggins Wholesale OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Borders Melons Florida Watermelon Association Gulf Coast Watermelon Association Georgia Watermelon Association Georgia Watermelon Association Illiana Watermelon Association MarDel Watermelon Association Robinson Fresh South Carolina Watermelon Association Texas Watermelon Association

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National Report

I am excited to share a small glimpse of our National Watermelon Queen’s amazing promotion filled year with you. Military Produce’s Produce Merchandiser, Scott Davis treats us Hardworking Watermelon Queens, thank you to dinner We pick up the busy tour in Warner Robins, Georgia a pre event dinner with Scott Davis merchandiser for Military Produce. Thank you, Scott! The Commissary was decorated so well for the event with watermelon everywhere. Katie enjoyed educating the customers and sharing delicious samples. This promotion was possible using the NWPB Grant Monies.

Our next stop was a fabulous new promotion sponsored by the GWA at the Atlanta Braves Stadium. The Braves Run, it was an awesome event located in the fabulous new Braves battery park in Atlanta. Watermelon for every runner at the early morning event. Thank you, Georgia Watermelon Association for sponsoring us and to Dawn for all the special event planning! It was a great promotion and so much fun! Next stop Longo’s in Toronto Canada for their annual Watermelon Eating contest. We Thanks Scott for the great display at Robins AFB These girls were treated to a trip to Niagara Falls were joined by the Florida, Georgia, and Texas watermelon queens. Longo’s always does an amazing job setting up this promotion, we certainly thank the NWPB for sponsoring this worthwhile event.

Our next stop, Asheville, NC for the grand opening of an Ingles Supermarket. We were sponsored and joined by Sun Up Produce, Freddie Ellis and Dale Fortune. We were also joined by the NC Queen Amy and SC Queen Courtney. The Sun Up team treated us to an amazing dinner at the Grove Park Inn, delicious food, breathtaking scenery and outstanding company. Thank you to the Sun Up team for making it possible!

We left NC headed for Edmonton Alberta Canada for some outstanding watermelon promotions for Freson Bros. in sections of northern Alberta. We were sponsored by Serving the customers at the Robins AFB Commissary Longo’s Annual Watermelon Eating Contest, every store in the NWPB, the locations were remote but extremely successful. We headed to Peace greater Toronto area River with several different watermelon festival events going on during Katie’s visit. The following day we were off to the Freson Bros., Fairview Watermelon Festival. It was so well attended and crowds of kids on hand to enjoy the watermelon, games and all the fun. A very special thank you to the Watermelon Board!

We were soon off to the Hampton, SC area for some fantastic Watermelon events, including farm visits and the famed Hampton Festival. We certainly appreciate Coosaw Farms sponsorship for the festival. We enjoyed our visit and photo shoot at Coosaw Farms, it’s always a pleasure to visit with Louise and Bradley O’Neal. We enjoyed SC Watermelon Queen Courtney and Coordinator Ann Bryant, thank you Ann for escorting us. We visited with the Barnwell SC team of Melon 1 and FH Dicks, and What a great promotion! Thank you, Scott, Great job! Katie gets to judge eat competition past sponsor Rusty Kinard of Kinard Farms. Rusty also treated us to lunch at his local restaurant, it was fantastic! We stopped off to visit Mark Wil- liams at Williams Farms and the Will Willis family in Bamberg. Its always a treat to have farm visits. We did a watermelon event with the Harris Teeter store in Hilton Head, SC. Courtney and Katie enjoyed assisting the shoppers. They helped pick out some great melons We have a for the Harris Teeter customers. winner! Katie, Courtney and Savannah (she fills in for Meredith due to a We also had a large group from Katie enjoyed working in the Military Produce Commissaries double booking) the calm before the storm their corporate office visiting the store during this time. Thanks for NWPB Grant Money for making it possible.

We attended the visiting queen drop in in Hampton before heading to the festival and street dance. The parade the following day was awesome, and the girls each had beautiful floats. Thanks again to Coosaw Farms, Bradley and Louise O’Neal Thanks to this team, and NWPB! Thank you Dawn, what a great promotion, Another winner at Longos for sponsoring us to the Hampton Braves Run at the Battery Watermelon Festival.

Our next stop was in Kingsland, Georgia for excellent promotions with Military Produce at the Kings Bay Navy Submarine base. Sean and his team did a great job preparing for the event. It was an incredible promotion.

We then traveled down to Cocoa Beach to Pat- She loves her rick AFB for some more outstanding promotions watermelon, stickers and at their Commissary. They had a great display It was great seeing Samantha for the Braves run in Atlanta The ladies got to enjoy dinner atop the CN Tower in Toronto, our Queen and we enjoyed several indoor watermelon what a view! eating contest with store gift card prizes. What a great team at the Patrick AFB Commissary

We wrapped up the Military produce events at the Mayport Commissary in Jacksonville, FL. Thank you We had thankful shoppers for having the National Freddie Queen assisting its customers, recipes, stickers Ellis, Dale and delicious samples. We thank to NWPB for Fortune sponsoring these Military Produce promotions. and Sun Up Produce for Until Next Printing, dinner and sponsoring Watermelon Everyday! us to the Eleanor T Bullock Asheville Katie is getting it done, serving up watermelon Ingles Grand [email protected] ; 229322.9933 Another sale, #watermeloneveryday to the Braves Run crowd Opening

Proud partner with NWA for 12 years. 6 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 news

HELP continued from page 1

Once signup begins, a producer will be asked to provide verifiable and reliable production records. If a producer is unable to provide production records, WHIP+ payments will be determined based on the lower of either the actual loss certified by the producer and determined acceptable by FSA or the county expected yield and county disaster yield. The county disaster yield is the production that a producer would have been expected to make based on the ments based on the loss of value of the tree, bush or Other USDA Disaster Recovery Assistance eligible disaster conditions in the county. vine itself. Therefore, eligible producers may receive both a TAP and a 2017 WHIP or WHIP+ payment for When major disasters strike, USDA has an emergency WHIP+ payments for 2018 disasters will be eligible for the same acreage. loan program that provides eligible farmers low-interest 100 percent of their calculated value. WHIP+ payments loans to help them recover from production and physical for 2019 disasters will be limited to an initial 50 percent In addition, TAP policy has been updated to assist losses. of their calculated value, with an opportunity to receive eligible orchardists or nursery tree growers of pecan up to the remaining 50 percent after January 1, 2020, if trees with a tree mortality rate that exceeds 7.5 percent Producers who suffer losses to or are prevented from plant- sufficient funding remains. (adjusted for normal mortality) but is less than 15 per- ing agricultural commodities not covered by federal crop cent (adjusted for normal mortality) for losses incurred insurance may be eligible for assistance under USDA’s WHIP+ benefits will be subject to a payment limitation during 2018. Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program if the losses of either $125,000 or $250,000 per crop year, depending were from natural disasters. upon their verified average adjusted gross income. As Prevented Planting under 2017 WHIP, the payment limitation for WHIP+ USDA also provides financial resources through its Envi- factors in the person’s or legal entity’s income from ac- Agricultural producers faced significant challenges ronmental Quality Incentives Program for immediate needs tivities related to farming, ranching, or forestry. Specifi- planting crops in 2019 in many parts of the country. and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters cally, a person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or All producers with flooding or excess moisture-related and conserve water resources. Additionally, the Emergency general partnership, cannot receive more than $125,000 prevented planting insurance claims in calendar year Watershed Protection Program helps local communities in payments under WHIP+, if their average adjusted 2019 will receive a prevented planting supplemental immediately begin relieving imminent hazards to life and gross farm income is less than 75 percent of their average disaster (“bonus”) payment equal to 10 percent of their property caused by floods. In addition, the Emergency adjusted gross income (AGI) for 2015, 2016, and 2017. prevented planting indemnity, plus an additional 5 per- Conservation Program provides funding and technical as- The $125,000 payment limitation is single total combined cent will be provided to those who purchased harvest sistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland limitation for payments for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 price option coverage. damaged by natural disasters and help put in place methods crop years. However, if at least 75 percent of the person for water conservation during severe drought. or legal entity’s average AGI is derived from farming, As under 2017 WHIP, WHIP+ will provide prevented ranching, or forestry related activities and the participant planting assistance to uninsured producers, NAP pro- For more information on FSA disaster assistance programs, provides the required certification and documentation, ducers and producers who may have been prevented please contact your local USDA service center or visit the person or legal entity, other than a joint venture or from planting an insured crop in the 2018 crop year farmers.gov/recover. For all available USDA disaster assis- general partnership, is eligible to receive, directly or and those 2019 crops that had a final planting date tance programs, go to USDA’s disaster resources website. indirectly, up to $250,000 per crop year in WHIP+ payments, with a total combined limitation for payments for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 crop years of $500,000. The relevant tax years for establishing a producer’s AGI and percentage derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities for WHIP+ are 2015, 2016, and 2017. For information regarding the payment limitation that ap- plies to WHIP+, please contact your local USDA service center or visit farmers.gov/recover.

Future Insurance Coverage Requirements

Both insured and uninsured producers are eligible to apply for WHIP+. But all producers receiving WHIP+ payments will be required to purchase crop insurance or NAP, at the 60 percent coverage level or higher, for the next two available, consecutive crop years after the crop year for which WHIP+ payments were paid. Producers who fail to purchase crop insurance for the next two ap- plicable, consecutive years will be required to pay back the WHIP+ payment.

Additional Loss Coverage

The disaster relief measure expanded coverage of the 2017 WHIP to include losses from Tropical Storm Cindy.

Enhanced Assistance Through Tree Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP traditionally provides cost-share for replanting and rehabilitating eligible trees. WHIP+ will provide pay- 7 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

National Pictures

Eating contest.. Watermelon for everyone, With the Harris Teeter team in Hilton Head and winners get whole ones

Watermelon team, Ingles team, and Sun Up Produce team enjoy this beautiful view at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville

Thank you Coosaw Farms for sponsoring us to Hampton Serving these twins, double the fun

Watermelon team at Ingles Grand Opening

Welcome to the We loved the photo shoot with sponsors Louise and Bradley Hampton Festival O’Neal

Katie helps this Ingles customer

Katie visits with Hamy Dicks at the Melon1 office in Barnwell, Katie pictured on the beautiful float in Hampton SC, we appreciate your support

Lunch break with the team, thank you for having us

Katie at the NAS Commissary in Kingsland GA Melon1 SC team

Queen Katie in Alberta Canada for Freson Bros. Love these signs!

We caught the Rusty Kinard team working during our farm visit, Helping pick the perfect melon thanks Rusty and Jonah Vincent for all you do

This little lady loves being crowned by Katie

Welcome to Hampton, SC Sean and Katie at Patrick AFB in Cocoa Beach

Katie and Courtney at Harris Teeter in Hilton Head, SC

Freson’s Watermelon Festival, fun for all

Helping the Military Produce customers

Proud partner with NWA for 12 years. 8 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 9 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Queen Avianna enjoying a cold slice of watermelon at the Florida Report “Watermelon 5 Run”.

Greetings from the Sunshine State of Florida!!! FWQ Avianna and GCWQ Taylor visiting with the “Smith Fam- ily” in Trenton, Florida. Thank you to Mr. Billy and Mrs. Corliss As our summer ends, our fall begins with promoting Florida for all your hospitality while visiting our farmers there. Watermelons! Enjoyed our day with Meghan Diaz – Sr. Man- As our summer months are slowing down Queen Avianna has ager of Produce at the Grand Open- been promoting Florida Watermelons from Florida all the way ing of “Sprouts to Canada. The months of June to July Queen Avianna and I Farmers Market” in Jacksonville, have been busy promoting watermelons at the State Watermel- Florida. Thank ons Festivals and Parades, visiting farmers and packing sheds in you to Jim Rash, Inc. for sponsor- the State, many state local Walmart’s, Winn Dixie and Sprout’s Thank you to Bob Gibson and Murray Tillis for sponsoring us at ing us. Farmers Market, Longo’s and Coleman’s in the State of Canada, the 65th Annual Chiefland Watermelon Festival. Watermelon 5 K Run, Fresh for Florida Kids Summer “Food on the Move Bus”, Orange County Library “Wide World of Water- melons”. Congratulation’s to Rieley Beauchamp The first week of August Queen Avianna and I headed to Dela- as Miss Teen Queen ware for the Mar- Del National Queen tour. After flight was and Queen Shelbi McCall for being canceled and lost luggage we finally made it there for a few days. chosen as the 2019 Chiefland Water- A fun day with the staff at the Orange County Library and Thanks to the Mar-Del Watermelon Association and Queen Co- melon Queens! Juliemar with NWPB. Thanks to all of you for a making this a ordinator Terra Eby for inviting us to this fun-filled event. Thanks special day with “A Wide World of Watermelon”. to Bob Gibson with Gibson Select for sponsoring us.

Also in August, the National Watermelon Association received the Music City Brand Champion awards for their branding of the 2018 National Watermelon Association Convention in Nashville Tennessee. Our 2015 Queen Kelli (Wilder) Gibson created the guitar logo and many of the designs used. Congratulations to the Thank you NWA and Kelli for all their hard work. Terry Parrish for a “Day in Everyone enjoyed playing “Bingo” and “Spin the Wheel” at the the Field”! Orange County Library in Orlando. As you can see with our captions’ we have had a wonderful summer promoting our Florida watermelons. Queen Avianna and I appreciates everyone that has helped in making this a successful summer in promoting Florida watermelons. More pictures to FWQ Avianna come in our next Vineline Edition. getting to spend some time chatting with Mr. Anthony Longo, President In the next few months if you are planning on being at any of and CEO of Toronto these events, please look for our 2019 Florida Watermelon Queen based grocery store retailer “Longo’s” Avianna, she will be attending these events. in Toronto, Canada. Enjoying the beautiful country of Newfoundland. Thank you Ms. Judy Bennett of Coleman’s Grocery Store for having us. • October 4 in Gainesville, Florida - University of Florida Homecoming Parade • October 27 in Washington, D.C.- 4 4 t h A n n u a l M a r i n e M a r a t h o n • December 3 in Gainesville, Fla. - “Yeah we S u w a n e e Va l l e y Wa t e r m e l o n I n s t i t u t e M e e t i n g won” at the Coleman’s • December 10 in Tallahassee, Florida - Watermelon Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception Eating Con- Queen Avianna at “Longo’s” in Canada promoting Florida test. Watermelons. Don’t forget to visit our Florida Watermelon Association Face- book and Instagram account where you will get to see where Queen Avianna has been this past year promoting Florida Water- melons.

Hope everyone has a safe, and Happy Holidays. Remember to A beautiful watermelon princess with pick up your Florida Watermelons at your local grocery stores Queen Avianna at this fall. our Winn Dixie in Dunnellon, Florida. A huge “thank you” to Bob and Rob Gibson with “Gibson Select” for all of your support and sponsorship’s in our Queen program. Until next time! Hope to see everyone at our 2020 Florida Wa- termelon Convention being held at Sanibel Marriott Resort and Spa in Sanibel, Florida on January 16-18! President Carr Hussey and First Lady Jane Hussey would like to invite everyone to attend this year convention. Look for more details coming soon on this year convention theme “2020 Vision”.

Debra Harrison Florida Watermelon Promotions Coordinator Queen Avianna helping fix lunches, handed out slices of watermelons, coloring books and stickers as well as educate the nutrients of Beside our beautiful Queen Avianna loving watermelon, her horse Email: [email protected] Cell: (863) 633-8306 watermelons to all the kids this summer. In one day we made five “Just the Fancy One” enjoys watermelon to after a stops in Tallahassee with “Food on the Move Bus” feed program! long day of competition.

Proud partner with NWA for 12 years. 10 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 11 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Georgia Report

Happy fall from Georgia!

Our Georgia watermelon season is coming to a close and we FallV1 – First trip to have had an awesome year promoting our favorite, sweet sum- Canada on the Longo’s pro- mertime fruit. The queen tour has been a great success and we motion – what excitement! are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit so many wonderful places! We can’t think of anything better than marketing sweet Georgia watermelon!

Our season of promoting watermelons began with ‘down-on-the- farm’ visits with our growers in South Georgia! Thank you to Tucker Family Farms, Leger and Son, Auburndale Fruit, Kenny Davis, Bob Rawlins, Mark Bryan, Marty Bloodworth, McKay Farms, Burk Farms, Dan King, Melon 1 and Generation Farms for allowing Queen Meredith to spend time with you and learn more about production and distribution! Also, a huge thank you to Melon 1 for hosting us for lunch and to Seedway for a special invitation to join their sales team on a field trial. It’s always fun to sample and taste test new varieties! Thank you to the Hogg family for joining us at the Atlanta Braves this summer!

Queen Meredith continued her travels with visits to cooler July 4th at the Atlanta Braves SunTrust Park passing out climates, Longos in Toronto and Coleman’s in St. John’s New- hand-held GA Watermelon fans! foundland. These were very busy promotions with at least 3 store visits per day and media interviews in between. We had a great time educating consumers on how to pick out the perfect watermelon and hosting watermelon eating contests. Thank you to the National Watermelon Promotion Board for your support with these visits and to Ms. Judy Bennett of Colemans for transportation, meals and making sure we were at the right place Promoting sweet GA watermelon at Coleman’s in St. John’s! We all love chatting at the right time! with Mr. Bob Rawlins! He’s the best! Other promotions included a partnership with the Atlanta Braves! Runners in the annual Braves Country 5K quenched their thirst with slices of watermelon at the finish line at SunTrust Park on June 1. The GWA were on deck with Atlanta Braves on July 4-5 where we handed out over 8,000 hand-held watermelon fans to Ms. Judy Bennett help keep the patrons cool. There’s probably nothing that feels and Queen Meredith educating consumers more Americana than celebrating the fourth of July with watermel- Thank you to Kenny about the benefits of on, baseball and fireworks, right? The highlight of the evening was and Debra Davis eating watermelon. and Steve Helms for an on-the-field-experience for Queen Meredith as the Honorary letting us visit your Team Captain on July 5. Meredith was featured on the large LED packing facility! scoreboard and on the field with the roster exchange. Thank you to Chris Hogg and his family, the McGlamory family and Samantha and Matt Kilgore for their helping hands to get all of these fans passed out before the games!

And there she is Queen Meredith joined the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in folks! Meet the Honorary Team Athens, GA on August 17 to celebrate the end of their scrimmage Captain for the practice with the annual watermelon cutting after their two-hour Atlanta Braves! practice. While the temperatures hovered around 96 degrees during the afternoon workout, Queen Meredith was able to help them cool ‘On the edge’ Queen Meredith sits above the North Atlantic at Cape Spear, Newfoundland. Just across the waters lie Ireland, down and re-hydrate after practice with freshly cut Georgia water- Portugal and France! melon provided by the Coggins’ family from their farm in Franklin County. The 19-year-old tradition continues with the Queen joining the Bulldogs for team pictures before leaving the stadium. For a first-hand peek at this promotion, visit our Facebook page and click here on the video to engage in the full experience!

As we move forward, Queen Meredith is excited to be attending THE EXCHANGE of the team roster at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC. Thank you to the Atlanta Braves home plate! NWPB for sponsoring us each year to attend our nation’s capital and help serve watermelon at the finish line! Stay tuned for the next Vineline issue; we can’t wait to share the MCM experience and even more with all of you!

Would you like to schedule a date for our Georgia Watermelon Queen to visit your location? Please call Dawn Cheplick at 706-845-8575 or [email protected] to book the queen.

Sincerely, The wonder of it all….Niagara Falls, rainbows AND Queens! Hanging with the Melon 1 Team! Lunch was delicious! THANK YOU! Dawn Cheplick, Promotions Coordinator 706-845-8575 ~ [email protected] 12 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 13 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Gulf Coast Report

Warm Watermelon Greetings Friends,

This summer Queen Taylor has been a wonderful ambassador for the Gulf Coast Watermelon Association.

She has attended numerous farmer’s markets and grocery stores along with going on a tour inside of International Paper in Bogalusa, Louisiana. She did an interview for the Troy Messenger newspaper, and helped put on a watermelon eating and seed spit contest that was covered by our local WTVY.

We very much so enjoyed our summer promoting the greatest fruit around and we look forward to what the fall has in store for our adventures together. We leave soon for the United Fresh Con- ference in Washington, DC. We will be back in our nation’s capital at the end of October for the marine corps marathon.

Please keep up with our promotions on our Instagram and Facebook page.

Until next time,

Madison Laney Gulf Coast Watermelon Queen Coordinator

Proud partner with NWA for 12 years. 14 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 15 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Illiana Report

Watermelon, the perfect treat all summer long! 2 - Stop one of our Kroger Greetings from Illiana! As our growing season winds down Vigo County Fair fun it is nice to take a few moments to reflect on the wonderful experiences Queen Madison was given this summer. The Watermelon Queen program is truly something special and it is exciting to see a queen embrace it so naturally!

Queen Madison spent the summer traveling throughout Indiana and Illinois promoting our industry including a

Kroger grocery store tour at multiple Indianapolis area Stop one of locations and a stop at the Historic Newburgh Farmers our Kroger tour Market. She received an extremely warm welcome from Watermelon tasting at Newburgh Farmers Market patrons at each location, greeting everyone she met with a smile and a slice of Illiana watermelon.

While in Indianapolis on our Kroger tour, Queen Madison had the opportunity to attend numerous Race for Riley fundraising events, including an appearance at the Riley Children’s Hospital where she got to greet patients and pass out coloring books courtesy of the National Watermelon Passing out water- We love our partnership melon at the Indiana Promotion Board. She also got to race alongside Kelly with Kroger Military Museum Tyner, IWA President, in a high speed go cart race where Kelly won the prestigious trophy for the third year in a row! Madison didn’t win, but she still got to accept the trophy on Kelly’s behalf at the banquet which is still an honor!

Summer festivities for the Illiana Watermelon Queen also include attending multiple fairs and festivals to spread watermelon cheer. Madison had the privilege to attend the Vigo County Fair, Oaken Days Festival, and the Latino Festival where she spoke to thousands of festival goers and passed Ready to race! First stop of the out free samples which hit the spot on a hot summer day! Mar-Del tour, Froggy 99.9!

Last but not least, Queen Madison got the opportunity to travel to Maryland and Delaware to join the Mar-Del Queen and the other state queens for a week full of watermelon fun! Stops included a radio interview, multiple grocery store promotions, passing out watermelon on the beautiful Rehoboth beach boardwalk, and serving thousands at the

Rotary Crab Feast in Annapolis, Maryland! Special thanks Presenting our check to Riley Children’s Hospital Foundation Beach fun on the boardwalk to the National Watermelon Promotion Board for sponsoring the trip and to the Mar-Del Association for having us!

Queen Madison looks forward to more sweet adventures this fall!

Kind Regards, Lana Brothers (314)724-6305 [email protected] Team Illiana Watermelon ready to hit the track Passing out delicious Mar-Del melons

Happy to celebrate in Oaktown, Crabs and watermelon, Indiana – a large the perfect combo melon growing area

Everyone loves Illiana watermelon! Enjoying a fresh slice of Illiana Watermelon! How many queens can you fit in a bin? 16 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 17 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 18 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 19 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Mar-Del Report

It seems like summer just started and here we are at the end of it! Our schedule was booked with events around Delmarva promoting Mar-Del watermelon. Summer started the watermelon season recording our local radio and that aired from June – September. If you did not hear Summer on our local Radio and TV stations, you were seeing her at a fair, day camp or grocery store. It was a good seed spit competition at the Kent County and New Castle County 4-H Day camps. The kids enjoyed the friendly competition and made watermelon tambourines.

We soon found ourselves in the middle of our season and full force into traveling to promotions. Summer participated in the “Paint the Bus” event in Laurel. The event brings the community together and they are able to paint an agriculture mural on the watermelon bus.

One of our favorite summertime events is the Maryland Buy Local cookout. Summer tried Maryland restaurants and producers’ recipes that used local ingredients. The Buy local cookout launches us right into the Dela- ware State Fair. Summer helped them celebrate their 100th year!

Summer was busy with two watermelon recipes dem onstrations, a live TV interview with WMDT, and Governor’s day tour and lunch. It is always a fun filled week of promoting watermelon.

On the last day of the state fair, we headed down to the annual Wrights Market Watermelon Festival and Wa- termelon Princess Competition. We crowned this year’s Watermelon Princess, played watermelon bowling, watermelon eating contests and much more.

With only two days to re-pack and re-group, Summer was ready to host our National Queen Tour week! Sum- mer, the National Queen Katie, and other state queens worked hard promoting watermelon around Mar-Del. We started the week at the Rehoboth Boardwalk and Giant grocery store. The girls judged the watermelon eating contest and watermelon displays made by grocery store employees. Next, we headed to the Laurel Auction Block. After a night eating crabs at Old Mill, we headed to Annapolis, Maryland for the Rotary Crab Feast. We handed out slices of watermelon to over two thousand people! The last day of our tour consisted of The Blessings of the combines. A great tribute to all our local farmers. The Queens passed out samples of watermelon and made sure customers knew how to pick out the perfect watermelon.

We wrapped up the National Queen Tour week just in time for the Evans Farm Watermelon Festival. Always a fun day of watermelon games, food and of course, WATERMELON. Summer finished the summer with the Wicomico County Fair, Maryland State Fair and a grocery store. It was a great summer supporting our local farmers and our favorite summertime treat!

Proud partner with NWA for 12 years. 20 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 21 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

North Carolina Report

North Carolina – Vineline – September 2019 A little rain did not dampen Queen Amy’s spirits for promoting A happy watermelon customer at the Charlotte Farmers Market Retail promotions, Watermelon Day celebrations, festivals, watermelon at the Washington Summer Festival media interviews and many other events have kept Queen Amy busy this summer.

Retail promotions helped to sell more NC watermelons this season. Store grand openings for Ingles in Asheville and Food Lion in Huntersville and Monroe took Queen Amy across the state for retail events. Several Food Lion stores hosted special promotions to benefit the Hope for the Ingles Market grand opening in Asheville, NC. Thanks to Jim Ray, Dale Fortune and Freddie Ellis (Sun Up Produce) for spon- Queen Amy and National Queen Katie with James Sharp at the Warriors charity. Amy took part in these events promoting soring our promotion with National Queen Katie Deans Farm Market Watermelon Day watermelon and raising money for a great cause. A new Charlotte area Harris Teeter store hosted a Farmers Market Day where Queen Amy was joined by SC Queen Courtney for the promotion.

NC Watermelon Festivals are a fun part of watermelon season in our state. The 34th Annual NC Watermelon Fes- tival in Murfreesboro was a true celebration of watermelon. Harris Teeter – Farmers Market Day – Charlotte. Queen Amy and Queen Amy and Jan Walters Hardee, former NC Watermelon During the festival Amy served as emcee for the “Little SC Queen Courtney promoting watermelon from our area Queen, at the Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival Miss Watermelon” pageant and assisted with the watermelon eating and seed spitting contests. The Fair Bluff Festival was lots of fun with Joe Jones escorting the Queen in the parade. Amy also attended the Summer Festival in Washington, NC to promote watermelon in her hometown.

“Watermelon Day” events at the NC Department of Agriculture Farmers Markets in Charlotte, Asheville, NC FFA members enjoyed the seed spit contest sponsored by the Howell Farming Company Tour in Goldsboro, NC Greensboro and Raleigh gave Amy an opportunity to meet NC Watermelon Association at their state convention hundreds of consumers. The events included free watermelon slices, watermelon eating and the largest watermelon contest. Nick Augustini, Marketing Specialist with NCDA helped us sample lots of watermelon at each market. A television appearances with WLOS ABC 13 in Asheville gave the NC watermelon industry and our watermelon day celebration some great exposure. Queen Amy also helped Senator Brent Jackson celebrate “Watermelon Day” at the North Carolina General Assembly. Jackson Farming WLOS-ABC 13 in Asheville interview. Queen Amy prepared Food Lion store grand opening in Monroe, NC watermelon dippers and discussed the NC watermelon industry Company provided the melons and Amy shared free slices with NC Senators, NC Representatives and staff at this special event. James and Courtney Sharp owners of Deans Farm Market hosted their own watermelon day this season. Queen Amy and National Queen Katie were on hand to share the watermelon and enjoy all the fun and games with everyone in attendance.

Fresh-Pik Produce, Jackson Farming Company and Howell Food Lion promotions to support “Hope for the Warriors” in Mar Del Queen Summer and Amy share watermelon slices with Farming Company hosted Queen Amy for farm tours this Atlantic Beach, Beaufort and Emerald Isle beach goers on the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk season. On each tour she learned something unique about how they grow, pack and ship watermelons.

Queen Amy really enjoyed her opportunity to support the NC watermelon industry as part of the Mar-Del Queen Tour. Thanks to the Mar-Del Watermelon Association, Terra Eby and Queen Summer for a fun filled week in Maryland and Delaware. Queen Amy helping customers select the best watermelon at a State Queens and auction supports at the Laurel Auction Market Food Lion in-store event in Delaware We have more events on our calendar, see all the details in the next issue!

Sharon Rogers Promotions Coordinator [email protected] 336-583-9630 NC General Assembly “Watermelon Day” in Raleigh, NC. Sena- Murfreesboro Watermelon Festival seed spit winners tor Brent Jackson, Senator Erica Smith and Amy 22 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

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South Carolina Report

What a busy and fun summer this has been for Queen Courtney. On June 10th, Courtney appeared on Low Country Live in Charleston, Low Country Live, Charleston, SC. Visiting Williams Farms, Islandton, SC. SC, giving information on the upcoming SC watermelon season and preparing a delicious recipe for the viewers. On June 12th, Ashe- ville, NC, was the next stop and an Ingles Grand Opening. We were joined here by National Queen, Katie Honeycutt, and NC Queen, Amy Arnold. We were also treated to a wonderful dinner at the Grove Park Inn by Freddie Ellis and Dale Fortune of SunUp Pro- duce. Many thanks for this special evening with good friends. June 14th, found Courtney in Greenville for an appearance on Your Caro- lina with Megan and Jack. Another recipe was prepared and more watermelon facts were given to the viewing audience. A quick trip Visiting with the President of Ingles and Jim Ray in Mike Hildebrand and Eric Church at Harris Teeter in to Charlotte, NC, on June 15th, had NC Queen, Amy and Courtney Asheville, NC. Hilton Head, SC. passing out watermelon samples at a grand opening of Harris Teeter where the melons were provided by Willis Produce of Bamberg, SC.

A three day whirlwind that included Katie Honeycutt and Eleanor Bullock, started with farm visits for Coosaw Farms, Fairfax, SC; Melon 1, Barnwell, SC; Willis Produce, Bamberg, SC; Williams Farms, Islandton, SC; and Kinard Farms, Lodge, SC, on June 20th . June 21st, found us all in Hilton Head at an in-store promotion for Harris Teeter. That evening, we all returned to Hampton, SC, for the annual Hampton Watermelon Festival where the girls rode in the Your Carolina, Greenville, SC. MarDel Queen Tour and lunch with Melon 1. parade on Saturday, June 22nd.

Courtney made another TV appearance on Making It Grow in Sumter, SC, on June 24th. As always, Amanda McNulty and Sean Flynn were wonderful and made Courtney feel like a member of their ETV family. Blackville Field Day was held in Blackville, SC, on June 11th. The day was blazing, but the watermelons were cool and the lunch was delicious. Dr. Gilbert Miller planned another very informative session with many good speakers from Clemson Univer- sity. After the lunch, Courtney visited Scotty and Denver Sandifer at Harris Teeter Grand Opening, Charlotte, NC. The Citadel Bulldogs in Charleston, SC. Sandifer and Sons in Blackville.

The next promotion was held at the PeeDee Farmers Market on July 13th. Although the rains can down, Courtney, Kyle Tisdale and Stacy Kubu, continued to cut and distribute watermelon slices to the folks in attendance that day. A Food Lion Grand Opening was held on July 17th, in Columbia, SC. Courtney was interviewed by the Produce News and a marketing representative from Food Lion.

The annual MarDel Queen Tour was held on July 31st-Aug 3rd. The queens in attendance attended a radio interview, a cutting at Re- Visiting Coosaw Farms, Fairfax, SC. The Furman Paladins in Greenville, SC. hoboth Beach Boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, an in-store promotion at Giant Foods in Rehoboth Beach, the Laurel Market Auction in Laurel, Delaware, lunch at the Melon 1 office in Laurel, and the Annapolis Crab Feast in Annapolis, Maryland.

The White Dove Race was held at Presbyterian College in Newberry, SC, on August 10th. Courtney passed out many slices of watermelon and talked with the bikers as they finished the race. In-state colleges started with the Citadel in Charleston, SC, on August 13th. A quick trip to Florence, SC, for a Food Lion in-store took place on August Visiting Melon 1, Barnwell, SC. Grand Marshalls of the Schutzenfest Parade, Ehrhardt, SC 14th. Watermelons were cut and served at Furman University in (Rusty Kinard and Courtney Kubu). Greenville, SC, on August 15th. A meet and greet the parents and students was also held at Berea Elementary School in Greenville, SC, on August 15th. Two promotions occurred on August 17th. Courtney attended and was the Grand Marshall at the Schutzenfest Festival along with Rusty Kinard in Ehrhardt, SC. Former Queen, Blakley Johnson, and Stacy Kubu, cut and served watermelons in Anderson, SC, at the Richard Campbell Veterans Hospital.

The Clemson Tigers in Clemson, SC, had their cutting on August Visiting Kinard Farms, Lodge, SC. Dabo and Courtney in Clemson. 20th, and the USC Gamecocks had their cutting on August 24th, in Columbia, SC. There are more promotions coming, but this year has been extremely successful with our schools and in-store promotions. Many thanks to those who took the time to visit with us and show Courtney what a true watermelon family is all about. Best wishes from South Carolina until next time!

Ann Bryant SC Promotions Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] Visiting Willis Produce, Bamberg, SC. A great way to end practice in Clemson, SC. 864-303-3995 26 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 27 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Texas Report

Hello from Texas to all of our friends! I hope this finds Enjoying a beautiful day at Niagara Falls A serious watermelon eating contest on a very hot day everyone having a season of bountiful blessings.

This summer Paige has been very busy with promotions. Her first trip in June was to Toronto, Canada to the Longo’s grocery store promotions where they had watermelon eating contests and lots of happy customers (and a Texas Watermelon Queen) willing to participate. We had the privilege of spending time with Alyissia Longo, who

was delightful, as we traveled to the different stores. She Cheering for the Longo’s customers in Toronto, Canada Paige’s first time attending the McAllen Farmer’s Market and showed us the beautiful, diverse city and introduced us to demonstrating a recipe. some of the great people who live there. Paige and some of the other queens also had a chance to visit Niagara Falls which was breathtaking. It was rather warm there, but it was still cooler than Texas!

Next, we took a trip to Lubbock, Texas to the Food King Longo’s made grocery store promotion and food bank drive. Once again Paige feel very it was a success as there were plenty of people who welcome. Visiting the 99.9 radio station in Delaware participated in the watermelon eating contests and who helped with loading the boxes for the local food bank. Thank you, David Willis of Watermelons Unlimited for asking us to take part in such a worthy cause. Not long after the Lubbock trip, Paige visited McAllen, Texas to help at the local Farmer’s Market where she demonstrated how to make a layered watermelon breakfast trifle. She was videoed for the Farmer’s Market website and she handled it like a pro; plus the visitors who sampled the trifle said One more contest Ready for the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk promotion it was delicious.

A few days after the farmer’s market Paige and I flew to Salisbury, Maryland for the Mar-Del Queen tour where we had a very busy week. First the queens visited the Froggy 99.9 radio station and had a radio interview. Then they were off to the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk promotion where the ladies handed out watermelon to beachgoers. More winners! The Giant grocery store promotion with a watermelon queen fan Later that same day they also did an in-store promotion at a Giant Grocery store. Thursday started off with a visit to the Laurel Auction Block in Laurel, Delaware where they auctioned off watermelons to support the queen program. After that it was on to the Melon 1 office where we enjoyed a delicious lunch with our friends, the Lapides, and their employees and friends. Later that evening we went to the Old Mill Crab House to have a fantastic crab dinner with the Mar-Del Watermelon Association President, Dawn Paige is always happy to help a customer. Collins, and many other folks in the association. On our Watermelon is the BEST! final day, we did one more in-store promotion at a Green Valley Marketplace, then in the afternoon we went to the United States Naval Academy stadium for the Rotary Crab Feast where all the lovely queens worked hard passing out watermelon to guests. It was a wonderful trip and we are very grateful to have had the chance to participate in it. We want to thank Mrs.Terra Eby, the Mar-Del coordinator, and the entire association for making it such a memorable trip. A great day in Lubbock at a Food King grocery store Passing out watermelon to those attending the Rotary Crab Fest at the Naval Academy We sincerely hope we see to see you all at our convention in November. It will be from November 7th-9th in McAl- len, Texas at the Embassy Suites hotel. Please visit our website or contact me for any information.

Best regards, Barbara Duda TWA Coordinator [email protected] Paige was doing a great job in helping load the food bank boxes. Paige made this little girl’s day. 28 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 29 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019

Western Report

Proud partner with NWA for 12 years. 30 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 2020 Membership r Now Ope !

If you missed becoming a member for the 2019 year, not to fear. You can sign up for the 2020 year today! Join and see what the National Watermelon Association can do for you. Become a member today to receive the discounted member rate at the 2020 National Watermelon Association Convention, take advantage of a long list of services that the NWA provides every day. Review the membership levels below and see where you fit in.

Level 1: Growers - Indirect Sales Growers that leave the majority of their crop ‘sales’ up to a broker, $100 Annual Dues shipper, sales company or co-op to sell for them. Levels 2-4: Growers - Direct Sales Growers that directly sell the majority of their crop to buyers (retailers, wholesalers, food-service operators, etc.) Level 2: $10 Million or more in annual watermelon sales $2500 Annual Dues Level 3: $5 Million but less than $10 Million in annual watermelon sales $1500 Annual Dues Level 4: Less than $5 Million in annual watermelon sales $500 Annual Dues Levels 5-7: Brokers, Shippers, & Sales Companies Brokers, shippers, sales companies and coops sell watermelons to buyers on behalf of growers (and for themselves). Level 5: $10 Million or more in annual watermelon sales $2500 Annual Dues Level 6: $5 Million but less than $10 Million in annual watermelon sales $1500 Annual Dues Level 7: Less than $5 Million in annual watermelon sales $500 Annual Dues Levels 8-11: Industry Suppliers Suppliers provide products and services to growers and shippers of watermelons - (i.e. seed, plants, greenhouses, chemical & fertilizer applications packaging, transportation, farm & packing equipment, bees, mulch, consulting & technical services and more. Level 8: $50 Million or more in annual watermelon-related sales $3000 Annual Dues Level 9: $10 Million but less than $50 Million in annual watermelon-related sales $2000 Annual Dues Level 10: $5 Million but less than $10 Million in annual watermelon-related sales $1000 Annual Dues Level 11: Less than $5 Million in watermelon-related sales $500 Annual Dues Level 12: Allied Members - Individuals Industry Associations/commissions/boards, researchers, retail operators, wholesale distributors, government, universities, past queens and coordinators, harvesters and $100 Annual Dues other individuals or entities that are interested in becoming members of the NWA.

Sign up today at www.watermelon.ag 31 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019 32 • the Vineline National Watermelon Association • Fall 2019