All About Honeydew Melon
The name says it all! Honeydew melons are beloved for their pale green, juicy fruit. Often compared to the cantaloupe, honeydews can be sweeter with less of the quintessential musky flavor that melons are known for.
Just because this fruit is more familiar than other Fruitstand faire, that doesn’t mean the honeydew is any less of a delicacy. At FruitStand, we ship superior quality honeydew melons direct to you from our specialty farm partners. Keep reading to learn all about honeydew melon!
Honeydew may be the planet’s favorite melon. Botanically known as Cucumis melo, honeydews are culinary fruits that are related to gourds and are technically considered berries!
On the outside, honeydew melons have a pale, greenish white rind that’s smooth and firm. Inside, the semi-firm honeydew melon flesh is a fresh, pastel green color that shines with juicy goodness. At the center, elongated teardrop shaped seeds are small and offwhite. Overall, these round melons are fairly large and can weigh over 7lbs.
Pleasingly soft when ripe, honeydew melon tastes a lot like a sweet, slightly musky cucumber with nectarous juice. As honeydew melons ripen, their fragrance becomes stronger and the fruit becomes sweeter. Raw honeydew melon seeds are inedible, but toasting them with a dash of salt makes for a fresh, crunchy snack!
Honeydew melons are incredibly versatile fruits that find homes in tons of recipes. From fruit salads to spiced chutneys, midori sours or wrapped in prosciutto, honeydews are a fantastic canvas for culinary creativity. Fresh honeydew melon can be prepared in both sweet and savory recipes, and in drinks for every age!
It’s easy to tell when one of these beauties is ripe. First, the honeydew melon should have a pleasantly sweet and slightly musky smell. The whole fruit should feel heavy for its size in your hands, and should be free of blemishes. Press gently into the melon with your thumb and feel it yield gently. Finally, tap firmly on the fruit with one of your fingers. There should be a hollow sound. If the melon is hard and sounds muted or flat, it may still need to ripen.
From what we can tell, it’s uncertain exactly where the honeydew melon originated. There appears to be a relationship between the North American honeydew melon and a cultivar from Algeria in North Africa and the south of France. Today honeydews sprout from climbing vines throughout North, Central and South America, as well as China.
From what we can tell, it’s uncertain exactly where the honeydew melon originated. There appears to be a relationship between the North American honeydew melon and a cultivar from Algeria in North Africa and the south of France. Today honeydews also grow throughout North, Central and South America, as well as China.
Like many other melons, honeydew melons grow on climbing vines.
The honeydew melon season in the United States lasts from about June through October, peaking in the early summer.
Whether our honeydew melon shipments are certified organic 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 honeydew melon, we’ve got great news for you! FruitStand is proud to partner with small, specialty farmers to bring you exceptional quality honeydew melon.
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