Anna Delany, adapted from www.Fruits&VeggiesMatter.gov
Did you know that melons are in the same family as squashes and cucumbers? Most melons have a similar structure to winter squash with thick flesh and a seed-filled midsection. Melons tend to make a better dessert though, and are much easier to eat raw!
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There are many melon varieties, but cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon are the most well known. Look out for more unusual melons at your local supermarket or farmer’s market for a different and tasty sweet treat!
| Variety | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
Cantaloupe  |
Actually called a muskmelon, this familiar fruit with orange flesh and khaki netted colored skin provides the most beta-carotene in the entire melon family. | Cantaloupe is typically available year-round, with a June through August peak season. |
Casaba |
Unlike the other melons, casaba melons do not have an aroma. This is a large melon that is pale yellow when ripe and has white flesh with a sweet taste. | This melon peaks in the fall, but starts showing up in markets in July through December. |
Crenshaw |
These melons can weigh up to ten pounds and deliver a unique sweet and spicy flavor. They are a hybrid between the casaba and Persian melon with a yellowish skin and salmon colored flesh. | Peak season for Crenshaw melons is August through September, with the fruit season beginning in July and ending in October. |
Honeydew |
The sweetest of all the melons and averaging five to six pounds, honeydew melons have a creamy yellow rind when ripe and pale green flesh. | Honeydew is best from June through October, but is available year round. |
Persian |
This melon is quite similar to the Cantaloupe, but is slightly larger in size, has a reener rind, and on the outside it has finer netting. | Persian melons peak in August and September with the season beginning in June and ending November. |
SantaClaus |
This variety is similar to the watermelon with the green and gold stripes, but is about a foot long and isn’t as sweet as other melons. | This melon is also known as the Christmas melon because it peaks during the month of December. |
Sharlyn |
This melon tastes like a cantaloupe and honeydew combined. Sharlyn melons are sweet with netted outer layer, greenish-orange rind, and white flesh. | The availability of Sharlyn varies. Check with your local supermarket or farmer’s market. |
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Next: Selection and storage
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