Hermiston city officials will be traveling to Portland on Friday, Aug. 3 to take part in the annual Hermiston-Portland Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest and Giveaway.
The event takes place at noon at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The event pits officials from Hermiston and Portland to determine who can spit a watermelon seed the farthest. Following the contest, Hermiston produce will be given away to the public.
This year’s event, sponsored by the city of Hermiston, the city of Portland, and the Greater Hermiston Area Chamber of Commerce, received many contributions from Hermiston-area growers such as Bellinger Farms and Walchli Farms.
“This is a great event that continues to build on our relationship with our partners in Portland,” said Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann.
The event has its origins in the 1980s when former Hermiston Mayor Frank Harkenrider challenged then-Portland Mayor, Bud Clark to a watermelon seed spitting contest. The Hermiston delegation also brought over a truckload of watermelons and other produce to share with Portlanders each year during those events. The event was discontinued in 2007 and started up again in 2015.
