Monthly Articles
Muskmelon
June 2008“Muskmelon”. It’s not a name you typically hear a lot. What is it? It is the true name of the cantaloupe. Florida, along with many other places, actually grow muskmelons, not cantaloupes, but not many people are familiar with the true name. The name cantaloupe comes from the city Cantalupo, in Italy, where they originate from. You can tell the difference between the two by their outside skin. Cantaloupes are a small fruit with hard, scaly skin; while muskmelons look like the ‘typical’ cantaloupe, light yellow with a soft, webbed or netted skin. The term muskmelon is not widely used, especially not in Florida. Florida grows just about one percent of the national cantaloupe acreage, and are mainly grown in the central Florida counties.
You can easily identify a cantaloupe by their smell. As they ripen, the smell becomes stronger and sweeter. Make sure the netting or skin, is an even yellow color and you can be sure that is has completely ripened. You can ripen any cantaloupe at room temperature. As soon as it is ripe, make sure to refrigerate, especially after cutting. Once ripe, cantaloupes can last for up to a week if they are kept cold. Most are best eaten within a few days though.
Cantaloupes contain a lot of nutrition. They are fun and tasty to eat at the same time. They are an excellent source of Vitamin C. One cup of it contains 112.5% of your daily value of Vitamin C. Cantaloupes also contain antioxidants that help fight diseases and health problems. It’s also a good source of potassium, vitamin B6 and dietary fiber. Since its fat and cholesterol free, it’s a great addition to any recipe.
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