speaking of melons

Local melons are here!  I bought some this weekend at the Valley Co-op.

Larry Lopez and Rosanne Camunez have been growing specialty melons for three years now, on five irrigated acres north of Las Cruces. By crossing original seed stocks, including Ananas, Crenshaw, Sapo, Char, Ogden, Tuscan and Casaba, they’ve developed a number of tasty hybrids. And by saving seeds and replanting each year they create new, “nativized” strains. Their conscientious attention and the great care they’ve put into this project are evident in every melon they ship.

Melons are in the same gourd family as squashes and cucumbers. Most have a similar structure to winter squash—thick flesh and inner seed-filled midsection. Of course, melons are a lot sweeter and juicier than their squash cousins. They have high water content, are fat- and cholesterol-free and relatively low in calories, and are a good source of vitamin C and potassium.

I sliced open the Tuscan melon for the folks in the office. A sweet honey scent filled the air. After a few of us devoured the mouth watering melon, the last piece lingering on the plate left a nostalgic feeling that summer is almost over.