Gaya Melons

Midnight watermelon is an attractive seedless variety featuring a glossy dark green rind that is sure to capture your attention. Slice open and discover firm, dark red flesh with small pips.

This watermelon appeals to all of the senses with its sweet, fruity flavor with cucumber notes, beautiful color and crisp, juicy texture. The flavor, texture and color of Midnight watermelon pairs well with so many sweet and savory flavors.

According to MenuTrends Research on watermelon, the top savory ingredients to pair with are feta, mint, cucumber, arugula, tomato, pork, tomato and avocado. Surprise pairings include clams, olives, corn and mustard.

Midnight Watermelon is 100% usable; in addition to its sweet flesh, consider using the rind in various menu applications. For a reduced waste approach, use the whole fruit to juice, puree, glaze, grill, compress, pickle, infuse, carbonate, make foam — you name it!

The casaba melon was first cultivated in Persia thousands of years ago. It wasn’t introduced to the United States until the late nineteenth century when it was imported from Kasaba, Turkey.

Casaba melons are golden yellow with greenish coloration on their wrinkled exterior. The round, pumpkin shaped melon has a slight point at the stem end. The flesh is creamy-green, juicy and lightly sweet. Delicious eaten by as is, or for added flavor, try it with a sprinkle of ginger, salt, or a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Casaba melons add sweetness to fruit salads and are refreshing used in drinks, like fruit punch, margaritas or daiquiris.

A native of Africa, watermelon was supposedly a source of water for thirsty traders who began to sell the seeds in cities along the Mediterranean trade routes.

With the consumption of around 3 billion pounds annually, it’s no surprise that the watermelon is considered one of America’s favorite fruits. Available May thru September, yellow watermelon is a perfect picnic snack on a hot summer day, chilled and cut into wedges, bars, or cubes, and added to salads, or purée or juice for spritzers or aguas frescas.

Mini watermelons are the perfect individual snack serving size! Mini Watermelons are about the size of a cantaloupe or smaller. The convenient size makes them easy to handle as they fit easily into a refrigerator or ice chest.

Melissa’s Organic label reads: “Melissa’s Certified Organic Produce is free of artificial or synthetic fertilizers and full of unforgettable, great tasting flavor. Our farmers use traditional earth-friendly farming methods inspected by a nationally recognized agency to verify organic authenticity. Melissa’s Organic Produce, a choice made closer to nature.”

These miniature watermelons are sweet, crisp and contain an abundance of juice with about 88% water. They can also vary from deep pink to deep red. Watermelons add a sweet flavor to fruit salads or when used in fruit drinks. Mini watermelons are the perfect individual snack serving size!

Look for a creamy white appearance where the melon sat on the ground. This indicates ripeness. Store at room temperature for 1 week; refrigerate for two weeks.