Growers

Watermelon, grown on open ground and cut only when it is ready.

The season is short — high summer and a few weeks either side — and the fruit does not improve after picking, so nothing is harvested early to travel. Melons come off the field in the morning and are on the shelf the same day.

Picking the right one is mostly a matter of weight and sound: heavy for its size, with a dull, hollow note when tapped. The pale patch where it sat on the ground should be cream or yellow rather than white.