WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13: WATERMELON FESTIVAL
Profile America - Saturday, August 13th. Watermelon fans are converging on the town of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, for today's annual Watermelon Festival. The celebration, which began in 1940, is expected to draw 20,000 or more for the day long festivities. The day starts with watermelon judging and ends with crowning of the festival queen. The fun is highlighted by the serving of 50,000 pounds of free watermelon. Watermelons are thought to have originated in South Africa. The first time the word "watermelon" appears in English was in 1615. In the U.S., watermelons are a $461 million a year crop. Leading producers are Florida, California, and Georgia. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.
Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 412
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 856
Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button).
SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
