Ah, watermelon. The lovely roundness of that large green casing surrounding that beautifully luscious, juicy interior. It can quench a thirst and cool you down on a hot day or remind you of summer on a cold one. So what's the deal with watermelon? Where do they come from, how are they good for you and what are the different types of watermelon?

Where does watermelon come from?

It is believed that watermelon originated in Southern Africa, and though no one is exactly sure when, 2000 B.C. has been named as a starting point. By 9000 AD, China was growing watermelon and even now, remains the worlds largest watermelon producer. Of course, the Vietnamese might argue the point since they take credit for finding the fruit long before it ever made it to China. As for the US, it got here around the early 1600s and today, Florida, Georgia, Texas, California and Arizona are the largest producers of watermelon in the United States.

How is watermelon good for me?

At 92% water, there's no question how well it can cool you down on a sweltering summer day. But beyond the water factor, watermelon is a great source of Vitamin C and has large amounts of beta carotene while the red flesh is a great source of lycopene. While here in the US we savor the pink flesh only, in China, the rind is just as popular. They pickle it, stew it and stir-fry it. Pickled watermelon rind is also popular in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania.

What are the different types of watermelon?

The different types of watermelon include Carolina Cross, Yellow Crimson (yellow flesh), Orangeglo (orange flesh),Moon and Stars, Cream of Saskatchewan, Melitopolski and Densuke Watermelon (only found on one island in Japan).