 As the seed structure indicates, melons are members of the gourd family, relatives of cucumbers and squash. There are two types of melons – the muskmelon and the watermelon. The latter has its seeds imbedded in its juicy flesh like a cucumber; in muskmelons, the seeds are contained in a hollow central cavity, like a squash or a pumpkin.
These muskmelons so readily interbreed among themselves that there are many varieties, with many more likely to be developed – and endless confusion about nomenclature as a result. Muskmelons’ flesh color ranges from a honeydew’s lime green to a Crenshaw’s pink-salmon hue.
Health Benefits: Melons are an excellent potassium source, and since they have a negligible amount of fat, are perfect for those concerned with high blood pressure.
Use: It is best to eat a melon alone, if melon is combined with another food, digestion is slowed, and fermentation – rather than assimilation – results. Melons do not withstand cooking but are delicious in fruit salads, fruit soups, ices or sorbet. They may be juiced, or served standing on their own with or without a squeeze of lime.
Buying: A melon’s sugar content does not increase after picking, so avoid immature fruits. A ripe melon is heavy for its size with a firm rind, a slight softening, and a sweet aroma at the blossom end. Avoid an overly ripe melon or one with dark, soft, or sunken spots.
 Actually called a muskmelon, this familiar fruit with orange flesh and khaki netted colored skin provides the most beta-carotene in the entire melon family.
The Can-A-Dew is a new sweeter melon variety that looks like cantaloupe on the outside and honeydew on the inside, but, thanks to its sugar content of 18 percent, compared to 7 to 12 percent for regular melons, is far tastier than either. The flavorful seedless mini-watermelon, with its exceptionally thin rind, is due to hit the market shortly.
 Super sweet and juicy. Honeydew melons have a creamy yellow rind when ripe and pale green flesh.
 A moderately new melon, sometimes considered as being a honeydew melon, which is a cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew. This variety has a very thin rind with small wrinkled lines crossing around the outer skin. Inside, the bright greenish-cream colored flesh provides the mild taste of a honeydew melon and the sweeter flavor of the cantaloupe.
 Watermelons come in many different shapes and sizes and patterns (from stripes to Moon and Stars), and we get quite a variety - call to see what's available.
 No seeds, or at least not many.
from Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia |
