Did you ever ask yourself (or another person) what the
National Watermelon Association does for its members
(for you)? In today’s competitive world where you have
many choices to make, that is a valid and appropriate
question to ask of any association, organization, group,
charity or business that you are considering doing business with, or supporting. What you receive in return is
important to your business – to your livelihood – and to
your Association. A return on your investment is a question that should be asked, and validated by the Association too.
The National Watermelon Association is dedicated to
making a positive difference in the lives and livelihoods
of our members by promoting the best interests of the
watermelon industry from production to consumption in
the growing, grading, handling, transporting, distributing, and selling of watermelon. That is our established
Mission, and we pursue that charge in all that we do for
our members.
Our goal each and every day is to pursue solutions for
our members’ business challenges related to all areas of
federal public policy and government relations, production research, food safety and traceability, networking
opportunities, expanding communications, the national
convention, training aids, marketing the Association,
and much more. In many cases, what we do is not
possible by individual members, but together, we can
accomplish much.
There are some people that have the idea that the
National Watermelon Association is solely about the
watermelon queens and the corresponding promotions that accompany those efforts. The queen-related
promotions play an important role in our promotional
activities, but they are also joined by other cornerstone programs and services that work to satisfy the
needs and desires of other members. Members are
involved for a variety of reasons, and needs. Our job
is to work toward achieving successes to meet the
needs as best we can.
Across the cover of this issue are examples of a few
major successes from recent years in vital areas of the
business that have made a difference for our members. There are so many more, but these will give
you a brief taste of what the Association does for our
members each and
every day.
In this issue of
The Vineline
member magazine, we will
share some of
the major programs and services that are available to our members.
Following your review,
we believe that you will
see meaningful
‘Value’ in what
it means to be a
member of the
National
Watermelon
Association.
Enjoy the reading as you
review numerous programs
and services
that we intend
to make a difference for
your business,
and for the
Association’s
membership.
Enjoy!
• Congressional designation of July as
National Watermelon Month
• Created our watermelon pre-print bin
for packing and retail display
• Discovery of the virus and subsequent
solution to Vine Decline (viral disease)
• Writing of Watermelon Food Safety &
Traceability Guidance
• Honoring our forefathers and past
leaders in the Association’s Hall of Fame
• Welcoming young watermelon farmers
in our Future Farm Leaders program
• Expanding into major promotions
(with the NWPB) at the Marine Corps
Marathon, the National Display Contest
and NASCAR Watermelon race team
• Impactful educational sessions (recalls,
outbreaks, legal and labor)
• Expanded record-setting national
conventions
