[Subversive_plot]

Maybe this isn't a "thing" over there. But it is a food question.

I distinctly remember my father taking perfectly sweet, crisp and cool slices of delectable watermelon and ... salting them before he ate them  . Not just once: EVERY time I ever saw him eat watermelon. I once asked him why; he just salted a slice and handed it to me in an 'all-will-now-be-revealed' manner. It very much wasn't. One bite: I couldn't eat more than that, had to throw it out       I thought my father (born in Chigago, Illinois) was the only person that did this.  That is until I saw my Wisconsin-born father-in-law do the exact same thing.

So I'm curious, do you, or anyone you know salt your watermelon?  If so, why? Or is this some upper midwest/Great Lakes USA sort of regional habit?

[Aunt Sally]

Well, it seems to be not uncommon …

https://www.southernliving.com/food/fruits/melon/watermelon/salted-watermelon#:~:text=In%201934%2C%20South%20Carolina%20newspaper,way%20to%20prepare%20the%20fruit.
 
… and not just for watermelon 

[New shoot]

I sometimes make the watermelon and feta salad mentioned in your link Aunty, but never actually salted a watermelon just to eat on its own.  Seems odd to me 

[Plot 1 Problems]

Even the thought of the taste makes me feel ill...

[Kleftiwallah]

Didn't Elvis Presley put salt on pineapple in one of his movies?

Cheers,  Tony.

[New shoot]

There is a long tradition in India of making savoury fruit salads. The main must haves are amchoor powder (dried green mango), pepper and salt, but after that you can freelance a bit. I always add cumin, chilli, coriander and a pinch of asafoetida.

They can also be fruit and veg mixes and are sweet, tangy, salty and spicy in equal measure. Pineapple is a great addition, even the tinned stuff drained of juice 

Look up fruit chaat if you want recipes. I haven’t made one in a while, but this thread has prompted me to do so now 

[Subversive_plot]

It is interesting that it seems widespread.

I will note, however, that I have lived in Georgia since January 1986, and never once have I seen someone put salt on watermelon here, except my father-in-law, who used to live down the road from us.

I'm with P1P regarding the taste.

That Southern Living article came with associated advertising - one of the ads was for a brand of chili - lime seasoning that is popular with Son #1's Latin-American co-workers at the organic farm.  The seasoning is good on tacos and so forth, but the co-workers put it on just about everything, including mangoes and other fruit.  Also, the SL article talked about watermelon tasting bitter or sour in addition to sweet - not a thing with the watermelons I've eaten!