WINTER SPRINGS, FL – The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), invites all retail chains, independent retailers and commissaries to submit entries to their 10th annual Watermelon Retail Display Contest. The annual contest was originally established to honor National Watermelon Month and is used by NWPB to encourage retailers to create displays that showcase the many benefits of watermelon including health, value and versatility.
Last year’s contest was such a success that again more than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to top entrants, including “Classic” and “Star Spangled” watermelon categories. Winners in both categories will receive $1,500, $800 for 2nd place winners, $600 for 3rd place winners and $400 for both 4th place winners, respectively. Eight honorable mentions in each category will win $200 each. An additional incentive will be awarded to the first 50 entries.
Displays should promote watermelon of any kind, including whole, fresh-cut, mini watermelon, yellow and red or any mix thereof. Judges will consider a display’s overall appearance, creativity, shop-ability and use of point-of-sale materials such as recipe cards and/or selection and storage tips.While supplies last, the NWPB is providing a free resource to retailers to assist in the contest in the form of a display contest merchandising kit that includes two “iron man” size posters (“health esteem” and “selection & prepping”), two large watermelon balloons, stickers and a 100-pack of “ABC’s of watermelon” informational one-sheets. Retailers can submit their displays through the end of August. To request a display contest kit, visit http://www.watermelon.org/Retailers/Retail-Display-Contest-Kit on or before August 15, 2018.
To enter a display, retailers can submit their entry and photos via an online contest form athttp://www.watermelon.org/Retailers/Retail-Contest (recommended), email or mail entry form beginning July 7, 2018. All entries must be submitted/postmarked by midnight EST on September 7, 2018. For more information, including official contest rules and last year’s winning displays, visit the aforementioned contest link or contact Juliemar Rosado at jrosado@watermelon.org.
About National Watermelon Promotion Board
The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB), based in Winter Springs, Florida, was established in 1989 as an agricultural promotion group to promote watermelon in the United States and in various markets abroad. Funded through a self-mandated industry assessment paid by more than 1,500 watermelon producers, handlers and importers, NWPB mission is to increase consumer demand for watermelon through promotion, research and education programs.
Watermelon packs a nutritious punch, with each serving providing an excellent source of Vitamin C, a good source of Vitamin B6, and a delicious way to stay hydrated, with only 80 calories. Watermelon consumption per capita in the United States was an estimated 16.3 pounds in 2017. Watermelon consumption in the United States was approximately 5.3 billion pounds in 2017. The United States exported an additional 339.1 million pounds of watermelon. For additional information, visit www.watermelon.org.
Source: National Watermelon Promotion Board