Summer is not the time to run out of watermelons, as Perry Wellness Center founder and CEO Stuart Perry knows. He has spent several years overseeing the recovery program’s primary community outreach activity and fund-raiser, Rudy’s Happy Patch Market. So, he knows to keep plenty of watermelons in stock for everyone’s summer picnics.

Aware of the impact of uncertain, hot weather and abundant rains, Stuart ordered a fresh shipment of Sumter County watermelons. He explains, “We had some issues with over- or under-ripe melons on our last shipment. We discarded that bunch and now have some new melons at Happy Patch. I hope people come and enjoy another summer melon from us!”

Before the unloading of the most recent shipment, one melon was cut to check for ripeness. It passed Stuart’s test, and grower Dion Lamb, of Plains, Georgia, left 160 watermelons for the summer produce inventory.

In the photo above, several peers assisted in passing along unloaded melons to their new display and sales settings.