As we inch closer to the end of summer, melons serve as a juicy reminder to savor the season while it lasts. Melons are a very versatile fruit that can be used in salads, drinks, dessert, or by itself! Looking for a refreshing melon dish to bring to your next barbecue? Try this mouthwatering watermelon, feta, and mint salad recipe that you can substitute with any melon of your choice! Feeling adventurous? Check out this Filipino recipe for a refreshing cantaloupe juice that I grew up drinking as a kid on a hot summer day. At the market you can find a wide selection of melons to choose from that can range from texture, flavor, and even smell. Below we have listed some special varieties of melon you can find at the market along with a short description.
Canary – Oval-shaped with bright, yellow skin that gives a waxy feel. Pale green flesh that is soft and succulent. Flavor is sweet and tangy.
Cantaloupe – Honeyed, musked, floral aroma and will feel heavy for their size. Seeds are edible and are commonly roasted and salted as a savory, nutty snack.
Crenshaw – Its acorn shape looks strikingly similar to a winter squash with all the fun parts of a melon. Peach-colored flesh that tastes like cotton candy. Be prepared to call this your new favorite melon.
Lemonade – Flavor is at the same time sweet and sour that will make your mouth pucker. Thirst-quenching like the beverage with a musky, astringent aroma. Texture is similar to honeydew with bright, yellow flesh.
List of Melon Vendors
As an ode to melons, Upriver Organics gracefully hosted their annual Melon Ball last Sunday, August 18th. It was a celebration of all things musk, inodorus, and watermelon! They offered fun festivities such as a raucous watermelon-eating contest, melon batting, a game where you can guess the weight of the biggest melon that Upriver could grow, and a sampling table with a colorful assortment of melons. The Melon Ball is a great opportunity to gather with other members of the community to celebrate another one of summer’s gifts while bringing your friends and family along for the ride!
“The sampling table had over 30 varieties to sample. There really was a melon flavor for everyone! I loved all the activities. It really highlighted how much fun melons can be!”
Alexis Molinari (Market Director of LCFM)