Joshua Carter and his family sell the most famous watermelons in Philly, for 75 years and counting

Through four generations and 75 years of selling watermelons curbside in West Philadelphia, Carter's Melons has developed a grand unified theory of how to choose the perfect melon.

Some people swear by the color of the belly or the distance between the stripes, or they’ll put a piece of straw on top and see if it spins. The Carters don’t pay any of that any mind.

Instead, they cradle a melon like a baby and thump it, tuning in to its vibrations and listening to its tones. If it gives off a certain hollow sound, the watermelon is ripe and ready to eat.

“We try to give a person a melon tailor-made to their desire,” said Joshua Carter Sr., who is 79 and has worked at the watermelon stand since he was 5. “Just like you would go and get a dress made or a suit made to your desire. That’s the same way we give a person a melon.”

Read the full story: https://www.inquirer.com/food/carters...

📝 by Zoe Greenberg / Staff
📹 by Gabe Coffey / Staff

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