Yummy Seeded Watermelon Showing up in Connecticut Grocery Stores

Do you know the differences between seeded and seedless watermelon? I noticed that Stew Leonard's was selling seeded watermelons at a premium price, what's the deal?

Stew Leonard's had a few different varieties of fresh watermelon for sale at their incredible produce section in their Danbury store over the weekend. Most seedless varieties were being sold for $5-8 bucks each, but I noticed that they were selling 'Seeded' watermelon for a premium price.

Why are we paying more for 'seeded' watermelons? Genetics, basically. Seeded watermelon have been naturally pollinated, and feature black seeds. 'Seedless' watermelons are hybrids of two types of watermelon plants, giving them extra chromosomes which make them produce tiny, edible, sterile white seeds. Why was this done? Texture and mouth-feel. Remember watermelon seed-spitting contests? They may be on the way back.

According to npr.com, and most social media commenters, most believe that seedless watermelon has a bland taste, and less nutritional value than seeded melons. YourProduceMan weighed in on the seeded vs seedless watermelon debate just last year.

Is a seeded watermelon worth $5 more than a seedless watermelon? Not that I can tell. The major factors that I have found that contribute to the taste and texture of watermelon is the yellow vs white shade spot on each melon. This patch is the spot that touches the ground as the watermelon grows. Yellow means that the melon had been left alone long enough to ripen, while a white or green spot indicates it was taken out before it's time. The other characteristic I look for is roundness, the more uniform, the better.