Produce
Watermelon
A thick inedible rind keeps watermelon near the bottom of the residue table. It is the cheapest way to add volume and hydration to a summer list, though it is thin on fiber.
Organic upgrade priority
Conventional is a reasonable budget choice
Score 16/100 · about $1.88 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 26/100 against 2/100 for organic — a 24-point difference.
- →At about 4.2 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 26/100
- Moderate residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 64/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $6.49
- per whole melon · organic +39%
- Servings a week
- 4.2
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,367
- Conventional, 2021–2023 · 42 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional watermelon
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,367 | 42 |
| Program years | 2021–2023 | 2021–2023 |
| Samples with any residue | 50% | 2% |
| Mean residues per sample | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.58% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 26/100 | 2/100 |
| Typical price | $6.49 / whole melon | $8.99 / whole melon |
Nutrition
Per 1 cup diced (152 g).
46
calories
0.9 g
protein
0.6 g
fiber
9.4 g
sugar
- Lycopene
- Vitamin C 14% DV
- 91% water by weight
How to wash watermelon
Scrub the rind before cutting. Nothing on the outside is eaten, but a knife drags whatever is on the surface straight through the flesh — the same reason cut melon has caused foodborne outbreaks.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆The field spot — the pale patch where the melon rested on the ground — should be creamy yellow, not white or green. That is the single most reliable ripeness cue.
- ◆Watermelon has more lycopene per gram than raw tomatoes, and unlike tomatoes it needs no cooking to make it available.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic watermelon?
Probably not, if money is tight. Watermelon indexes 26/100 on relative residue evidence against 2/100 for organic — a difference small enough that the same dollars buy far more on leafy greens or berries.
›Are watermelon high in pesticides?
Watermelon shows moderate residue evidence — an index of 26/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,367 conventional samples from 2021–2023, 50% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 0.8 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.58% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic watermelon cost?
About 39% more at typical U.S. retail — $6.49 per whole melon conventional against $8.99 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $1.88 a week.
›How should I wash watermelon?
Scrub the rind before cutting. Nothing on the outside is eaten, but a knife drags whatever is on the surface straight through the flesh — the same reason cut melon has caused foodborne outbreaks.
Related foods
Blackberries
$3.49 / 6 oz container · organic $4.99
Avocados
$1.49 / each · organic $2.29
Strawberries
$4.29 / 1 lb container · organic $6.49
Blueberries
$3.99 / 11 oz container · organic $5.79