All About Cantaloupe

The cantaloupe (C. melo var. reticulatus) is a sweet, soft and incredibly delicious muskmelon.  Perhaps one of the most famous melons, cantaloupe has a very sweet, musky flavor with soft, dense flesh that is quite juicy when ripe. It has a refreshing sweetness that is enhanced by both chilling and high heat. They’re round in shape, and typically weigh three to four pounds. 

On the outside, ripe cantaloupe melons have a smooth, tan rind with a dry, slightly netted texture. When immature, cantaloupe will still have blushes of green on its skin. The rind is inedible and should be discarded. Inside, the flesh is deep, peachy orange with a soft cucumber texture. At the center of the fruit is a seed cavity that contains hundreds of edible seeds that are tan and oblong with a point at one end. 

Cantaloupes are easy to prepare for all kinds of snacks, meals, treats and drinks. They’re suitable for raw and cooked preparations, in sweet and savory meals, soft drinks and cocktails. Eat raw slices of cantaloupe, or enjoy it in fruit and vegetable salads. Turn up the heat and cantaloupe caramelizes beautifully. Enjoy it frozen in smoothies, shakes and sorbets. The only limit to culinary cantaloupe creativity is your imagination! 

The beloved cantaloupe is believed to have originated in Armenia, and is grown throughout the world today in China, South Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, including Canada, the United States and Mexico. Cantaloupes are botanical berries that grow on low, thick vines. Cantaloupes are a classic summertime fruit, peaking between June and August. They can be found in some markets year round.

The beloved cantaloupe is believed to have originated in Armenia, and is grown throughout the world today in China, South Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, including Canada, the United States and Mexico. Cantaloupes are botanical berries that grow on low, thick vines. Cantaloupes are a classic summertime fruit, peaking between June and August. They can be found in some markets year round.

Cantaloupes are a classic summertime fruit, peaking between June and August. They can be found in some markets year round. Botanically speaking, they’re considered berries and grow on low, thick vines.

Perhaps two of the most common melons found on fruit platters across America, cantaloupe and honeydew are both sweet, delicious varieties of melons. From the inside out, both have seeds at the center of the fruit, surrounded by firm yet fleshy fruit and a thin, tough rind covering the round melon. 

However, these are totally different melon experiences, in flavor, color and aroma. Cantaloupe is more musky and less sweet than its honeydew relative. Side by side, it’s easy to see that cantaloupe is smaller with a rough, tan rind rather than a honeydew’s smooth, pale green exterior. Inside, the cantaloupe’s flesh is rich, peachy orange rather than the pale, cucumber-green flesh of the honeydew.

Whether a cantaloupe is certified organic or not will depend on the farm where it was grown. At FruitStand, we only partner with the best specialty farms for exceptional quality of produce. When each harvest is available, we'll tell you whether the fruit is considered organic or conventional.

If you’ve ever wondered where to buy fresh, specialty cantaloupe, we’ve got great news for you! FruitStand is proud to partner with small, specialty farmers to bring you exceptional quality cantaloupe. To be the first to know when FruitStand is shipping cantaloupe harvests, join our email newsletter!

Still curious about cantaloupe? Send us your cantaloupe questions on Instagram @Fruitstandcom!