Retailers — and consumers — looking to liven up their melon menus continue to turn to the specialty category.
Turlock, Calif.-based Turlock Fruit Co. Inc. grows a number of mixed melons, said co-owner Steve Smith.
Canary, piel del sapo and galia are the traditional specialties, but the company's customers seem to prefer orange-flesh honeydew melons that the company calls Orangedews and green and yellow hami melons.
“Of all the mixed melons that we have, hami and the Orangedews are the most popular,” Smith said. “We're going to be really promoting [Orangedews] this year as a unique melon.”
Orangedews come from proprietary seed and are exclusive to Turlock Fruit Co., he said. The company will expand acreage for Orangedews this year to accommodate growing demand for them.
Classic Fruit Co., Fresno, Calif., is trialing a number of specialty melons but will add golden honeydews starting in July, said Tom Conrado, vice president of West Coast sales and business.
“It's one we have a pretty good handle on,” he said.
The company has been growing golden honeydews in Central America with good results, Conrado said.
“Now we have found what we feel is the right variety in the [U.S.],”
The golden honeydew, which is the same size as a regular honeydew melon, is golden with a white flesh but tastes sweeter than regular honeydews, Conrado said.
“I think people have a great eating experience with it,” he said.
Del Mar Packing, Westley, Calif., offers several kinds of specialty melons but has seen its best growth with the hami variety, says Brian Wright, sales manager. (Photo courtesy of Del Mar Packing)
Del Mar Packing, Westley, Calif., offers galia, hami and juan canary specialty melons, said Brian Wright, sales manager.
Harvesting will start in late June or early July.
“We've seen pretty good demand increases, specifically for the hami,” Wright said. “That's where we've seen our best growth.”
Hami melons have a crispy texture and a flavor blend of cantaloupe and honeydew, he said.
