Florida Watermelon Association
The Florida Watermelon Association is a non-profit trade association founded in 1968 that serves Florida's watermelon growers, shippers, researchers, and retail buyers. It operates an annual conference, a live auction fundraiser, and educational programs in partnership with the University of Florida IFAS.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersFort Myers, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Florida Watermelon Association does
The Florida Watermelon Association (FWA) is a non-profit agricultural trade association founded in 1968 and headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida. It is the only statewide association specifically dedicated to the Florida watermelon industry, serving four stakeholder groups: commercial watermelon growers (primary), shippers, agricultural researchers and academic partners, and retail buyers. The association's core activities center on a three-day annual conference that combines educational programming, networking, and a live auction fundraiser at which retail buyers bid on watermelon loads. The 2025 conference, held in Port Charlotte from October 30 to November 1, drew participation from Food Lion, which was recognized as the King Load Buyer after purchasing $115,248 in loads.
The association partners with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) to deliver research-based educational content at its annual event. It also operates ancillary programs such as the Florida Watermelon Queen royalty program. Revenue is generated through membership dues, conference participation fees, and live auction proceeds, though no financial figures are publicly disclosed. The organization is small, with 1-10 employees, and operates exclusively within the Southeastern United States, with no global footprint.
The FWA functions as an industry convener and quasi-cooperative rather than a product or technology company. Its strategic value is structural: it consolidates a fragmented grower base, channels research outputs from IFAS to practitioners, and provides a marketplace mechanism (the live auction) that connects supply with retail demand. The absence of any disclosed technology platform, digital product, or data infrastructure indicates the association's operations are entirely event-driven and relationship-based.
Florida Watermelon Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Florida Watermelon Association
- Legal name
- Florida Watermelon Association
- Website
- https://flfwa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Florida Watermelon Association is a non-profit trade association founded in 1968 that serves Florida's watermelon growers, shippers, researchers, and retail buyers. It operates an annual conference, a live auction fundraiser, and educational programs in partnership with the University of Florida IFAS.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Florida Watermelon Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Myers
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Florida Watermelon Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Marketing channels2 records
Florida Watermelon Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Florida Watermelon Association is a non-profit agricultural trade association that supports Florida's commercial watermelon growers through grower education, industry marketing, research programs, and networking events. Its primary deliverable is an annual three-day conference that brings together growers, shippers, researchers, and retail buyers, supplemented by a live auction fundraiser and partnership-driven research initiatives with University of Florida IFAS.
Product overview
The Florida Watermelon Association is a single unified trade organization rather than a product platform. It operates as an agricultural industry association offering programs including annual conferences, live auctions, and royalty programs such as the Florida Watermelon Queen. The association funds its activities through membership, event participation, and fundraising initiatives like the King Load Buyer live auction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Watermelon Conference A three-day annual conference serving as the central platform for education, networking, and industry coordination among Florida watermelon growers, shippers, researchers, and retail buyers.
- King Load Buyer Live Auction A live auction event where retail buyers bid on bulk watermelon loads, generating revenue for association programs and providing buyers with direct access to Florida watermelon products.
- Membership Program Membership-based participation for Florida watermelon growers, shippers, researchers, and industry partners, providing access to association programs, events, and representation.
Companies that use Florida Watermelon Association
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Florida Watermelon Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Florida Watermelon Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.
- University of Florida IFAScoreUniversity of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) experts lead educational sessions at the annual conference, providing research-based agricultural education and best practices to association members.
- Food LionnotableFood Lion was recognized as the King Load Buyer at the 2025 conference after purchasing $115,248 in loads during the live auction. This represents a significant buyer relationship supporting the association's fundraising efforts.
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Florida Watermelon Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Watermelon Promotion Board: Federal research and promotion board funded by grower assessments that drives national watermelon consumption marketing. Broader industry player that complements but does not replace FWA's state-level grower services.
- Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association: The umbrella Florida agricultural trade association representing the state's full range of fruit and vegetable producers. Broader in scope than FWA but operates a similar grower-representation and lobbying model within Florida.
Direct peers
- Georgia Watermelon Association: A peer state-level watermelon association in Georgia, one of Florida's primary competing production states. Operates the same annual conference/auction model for its grower and shipper members.
- Alabama Watermelon Association: State watermelon association covering Alabama growers with education, annual meetings, and queen program. Operates in an adjacent Southeastern watermelon-producing state.
- National Watermelon Association: The national trade association for the U.S. watermelon industry, organizing the annual convention and coordinating promotion across multiple state associations including Florida. Most directly comparable peer in scope and mission.
- Texas Watermelon Association: A state-level watermelon association promoting Texas growers through education, research, and annual events. Closely mirrors FWA's structure and activities in a competing production state.
- South Carolina Watermelon Association: State-level watermelon association running annual conferences and queen program for SC growers. Direct functional peer in the Southeast watermelon belt.
- North Carolina Watermelon Association: State association representing North Carolina watermelon growers through promotional events, queen program, and grower education. Operates a parallel association model to FWA.
Regional players
- California Watermelon Association: A California-based watermelon grower association representing a major Western production region. Operates a similar association model but in a non-overlapping seasonal window and geography versus Florida.
- Florida Strawberry Growers Association: A Florida-based specialty crop association running promotional events and research programs for strawberry growers. Comparable in structure and Florida geographic focus, but addresses a different crop.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Florida Watermelon Association social profiles
Digital presenceFlorida Watermelon Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Florida Watermelon Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Florida Watermelon Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Florida Watermelon Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Florida Watermelon Association
What does Florida Watermelon Association do?
The Florida Watermelon Association is a non-profit agricultural trade association that supports Florida's commercial watermelon growers through grower education, industry marketing, research programs, and networking events. Its primary deliverable is an annual three-day conference that brings together growers, shippers, researchers, and retail buyers, supplemented by a live auction fundraiser and partnership-driven research initiatives with University of Florida IFAS.
When was Florida Watermelon Association founded?
Florida Watermelon Association was founded in 1968. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Florida Watermelon Association based?
Florida Watermelon Association is headquartered in Fort Myers, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Florida Watermelon Association's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Watermelon Promotion Board and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. Direct peers are Georgia Watermelon Association, Alabama Watermelon Association, National Watermelon Association, Texas Watermelon Association, South Carolina Watermelon Association and North Carolina Watermelon Association. Regional players are California Watermelon Association and Florida Strawberry Growers Association.
Does Florida Watermelon Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Florida Watermelon Association.