Daily Dish the Fork Lift blog
Melon Mastery
Not to be melondramatic, but freshly grown melons are one of summer’s greatest joys. These sweet, California-grown gourds are as delicious as they are refreshing. And while we may think of honeydew, cantaloupe, or the ever-iconic watermelon, there are so many more melons to explore. Just remember, Mother Nature has the final say, so selection may vary by store and season!
Not to be melondramatic, but freshly grown melons are one of summer’s greatest joys. These sweet, California-grown gourds are as delicious as they are refreshing. And while we may think of honeydew, cantaloupe, or the ever-iconic watermelon, there are so many more melons to explore. Just remember, Mother Nature has the final say, so selection may vary by store and season!
Watermelon: Available massive or mini, seedless or classic, these iconic summer fruits have smooth, green and yellow rinds and bright red flesh with a sweet, juicy flavor and crisp, refreshing crunch.
Yellow Doll Watermelon: Similar to a standard watermelon on the outside, these seeded sensations are bright yellow on the inside with softer skin (easier to cut into) and a high sugar content (extra sweet!).
Sugar Baby Watermelon: These petite summer treats are just as juicy as their bigger brethren, but pint-sized (almost literally!) for extra convenience. These babies are super sweet, seeded, and ideal for smaller settings.
Black Watermelon: Also known as Imagination Melons, these seedless fruits have dark rinds, red flesh, and great consistency and flavor. Ours are locally grown by Vierra Farms in West Sacramento!
Cantaloupe: With a netted, beige and greenish rind and creamy orange flesh, cantaloupes are a classic choice year-round thanks to their sweet, mildly floral taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Charentais: This fantastic French cantaloupe is smaller than other varieties, has pale, smooth skin lined with green stripes, and contains creamy orange flesh prized for its distinct fragrance and sweetness.
Sharlyn: These marvelous melons look kind of like elongated cantaloupes with a mosaic-like netting on the outside, pale yellow or green flesh on the inside, and a subtly sweet, balanced flavor.
Honeydew: With a smooth, almost white rind surrounding pale green flesh, this summer favorite boasts a firm yet juicy texture and a mild, refreshing flavor reminiscent of honey (and dew!).
Snow Leopard: An eye-catching variety of honeydew, these mini melons have smooth, snowy skin with occasional green striations surrounding firm, almost white flesh that’s sweet and subtly floral.
Piel De Sapo: Meaning “frog skin” in Spanish, this melon has green and yellow splotches on its rind (befitting the name). It has a honeydew-like interior that’s even sweeter, crisper, and more aromatic.
Galia: These golden globes have yellowish rinds with fine, pale netting, plus light green flesh similar to honeydew but with a sweet, tropical flavor closer to cantaloupe crossed with banana.
Canary: Bright yellow on the outside with smooth skin and an elongated shape, this variety of muskmelon has crisp, pale flesh that’s super sweet with just enough tang to make it sing!
Goddess: This divine variety of cantaloupe looks very similar to the standard type, but with less pronounced netting and softer orange flesh that’s juicy, fruity, and extra sweet.
Ready to eat? Learn how to select and store superior summer melons with our Melon Manual!
Selection may vary by store and season.