Melons
OSGF
Plant Family: Cucurbitaceae
Latin Name: Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus
Varieties We Grow: Sarah’s choice (Cantaloupe), Crimson Sweet (Watermelon), Wilson Sweet (Watermelon), Sugar Baby (Watermelon)
Storage: Leave melon whole before eating, and place in the refrigerator if it’s not going to be consumed within five days. Once sliced, store extra melon in plastic/beeswax wrap or place into an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Melons are a refreshingly sweet summer fruit that can be consumed by itself or added to other dishes. Both watermelon and cantaloupe work wonderfully made into cold desserts, like sorbet and granita. But, if you’re craving savory, try pairing watermelon in a salad with red onion, feta, and mint or cantaloupe with cured meat, such as prosciutto.
Unlike watermelons, cantaloupes will continue to ripen off the vine. It can be quite tough to tell when a cantaloupe is perfectly ripe in the field. There are two ways to judge when the fruits are ready for slicing and eating. First, the color of the rind; the cantaloupe is ripe when the solid green surface underneath the webbing will turn from green to golden. After looking at the color of the outer skin of the melon, go ahead and smell it. A light, musky sweet fragrance means you more than likely have a ripe melon. If the smell is very strong, then it's possible it's a little too ripe. If you don't smell anything, then it has a bit of ripening left to do. Placing your cantaloupe in the refrigerator will slow the ripening process.
Recipes
Cantaloupe Sorbet: https://www.thespruceeats.com/cantaloupe-sorbet-2216189
Easy Grilled Cantaloupe with Almonds, Lime and Cotija: https://californiagrown.org/recipes/is-cantaloupe-good-for-you/
Prosciutto and Melon: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/prosciutto-and-melon/
Watermelon Granita: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/watermelon-granita-recipe-1957577
Watermelon Salad with Feta: https://www.loveandlemons.com/watermelon-salad/
42 Wonderful Ways with Watermelon for the Summer Heatwave by Delicious: https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/collections/gallery/28-hydrating-watermelon-recipes-for-summer/5i8f969b?page=12