Not pink anymore: Karnataka farmer scientifically grows yellow-coloured watermelons

Team Udayavani, Feb 24, 2021, 7:01 PM IST

Bengaluru: Is there anything better than sinking your teeth into a crisp, juicy wedge of watermelon on a hot summer day? No barbecue, picnic, or beach trip would be complete without this pink summertime staple. But did you know that not all watermelon is pink? Yes, a farmer from Karnataka is growing yellow watermelons scientifically.

The farmer in question is Basavraj Patil, a graduate from Koralli village in Kalaburagi.

Patil has collaborated with the local mart and Big Bazaar in the city to sell his produce and is earning good profits from the scientifically cultivated yellow watermelons.

It is gathered that he had invested Rs 2 lakh in the production of the watermelons and has earned a profit of Rs 1 lakh from the sales so far.

On the outside, yellow watermelons look exactly the same as pink watermelons with an identical, striped green rind. Traditional watermelons get their signature pink hue from lycopene, the same antioxidant that makes tomatoes and grapefruits red. Yellow watermelons, however, don’t contain lycopene, so they never take on a reddish color.

The colour of yellow watermelon ranges from pale yellow to slightly golden. They often contain edible, brown-black seeds or can be totally seedless. They also have a thinker rind as compared to their red cousin.

Aside from the obvious color difference, there is a slight difference in taste between yellow and pink watermelons. The yellow varieties usually taste a bit sweeter than the pink and have a more honey-like flavor. Both come in seeded and seedless varieties and can be used interchangeably in fruit salads, smoothies, desserts, and other summertime treats.

The yellow watermelon is high in vitamins A and C, which can support the immune system and skin health.