TUNE IN: Robbie Sigona talks about Orange Flesh Honeydew
Keep scrolling for some produce tips to keep in mind for when selecting an Orange-Flesh Honeydew, as well as some of our favorite serving suggestions!
Orange-Flesh Honeydew is a favorite among our customers and our staff! Sometimes you’ll see them called Orangedew or Orange-Fleshed Honeydew, but they’re all the same melon! We work with Turlock Fruit Company to bring in these and other unique, outstanding melons each summer. We’ve worked with owner Don Smith and his company for over 35 years!
The Orange-Flesh Honeydew is a result of a musk melon and a honeydew. It tastes like a cantaloupe with the extra sweetness of a honeydew. They’re super juicy, flavorful and well…you need to taste one!
When selecting an Orange-Flesh Honeydew, keep in mind:
First, orange-flesh honeydew melons should be clean with as little blemishes as possible. Some marks are inevitable, but older melons will show spots.
They should have a nice orange color to them. Some farmers will pick them green, and they look like a honeydew.
Make sure they have a waxy texture to them. Go ahead and feel it. You don’t want a smooth and slick melon.
Orange-flesh honeydew melons should be heavy for their size. This way they’re loaded with juice and natural sugar.
Serving suggestions:
Melons are so refreshing and flavorful, sometimes they’re best when simply sliced and diced. One simple say to spice up (literally) sliced melon is to add a little Tajin. So good!
Here are some ways to incorporate melon to recipes, too:
Orange-Flesh Honeydew, Fig & Prosciutto with Fennel and Sigona’s Basil Oil
Prosciutto and and cantaloupe is most definitely a classic combination — the saltiness of the prosciutto is countered by its sweet cantaloupe companion, creating a delicious flavor you might not usually expect from two simple ingredients. We’ve taken these two ingredients and added in a few other flavors and textures — the fennel adds fantastic crunch — to create a salad rather than a typical melon-prosciutto appetizer. Serves 4 to 6.
Orange-Flesh Honeydew Agua Fresca with Lime & Mint
Orange-Flesh Honeydew Agua Fresca with Lime & Mint is a light, refreshing fruit juice which originated in Mexico. This thirst-quencher is made by simply blending fruit with water and adding in a bit of lime. We like mint in ours, too. Add vodka or don’t — we’ll leave it up to you.
Shrimp, Melon and Wild Arugula Salad with a Simple Meyer Lemon Oil Dressing
The peppery arugula pairs well with the sweet melon and delicate shrimp. Wild arugula packs even more of a punch, so use what your taste buds desire. If you can’t find wild, regular or baby will be just as good.
Melon and prosciutto is a classic Italian pairing. I love the salty-sweet combination, especially when drizzled with our reduced fig balsamic. It presents just the right flavor…delicious! I have two time-saving tips for this dish:
Carmelo Sigona emigrated in 1912 from Sicily, bringing with him the tradition of making his own wine. His grandson and namesake, Carmelo Sigona, co-owner of Sigona's Farmers Market, has fond memories of his grandfather making wine and serving it at family meals on Sundays. After years of wanting to make his own wine just like Grandpa Sigona, present-day Carmelo has finally made his dreams come true. Tune in for more.
Nothing is more rewarding to Rob Sigona, our passionate produce buyer, than taking a road trip to visit one of Sigona's favorite farmers.
About a five hour drive from the Bay Area, nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, is the town of Springville. There you will find a place seemingly untouched by time; a place called home to orange grower Ron Matik of Pleasant Oaks Ranch.
Since 1984 Ron has grown some of the best heirloom navel oranges in the state, if not the world: the heirloom Washington Navel.
"I have yet to taste an orange that is better than ours,” says Matik. “Maybe some with the same sweetness, but never better.”
And Sigona's agrees!
Heirloom Washington Navels are the variety that got the whole California citrus market booming all those years ago. It takes special attention from the farmer to tend to the soil and the variety to produce such outstanding fruit.
"Small farmers, such as Ron, are a dwindling breed,” says Rob Sigona. “They’re passionate caretakers of the the land that produce exceptional quality; they are the rare gems."
It is an achievement to find such great tasting oranges to bring in for our customers. We are excited to announce we’ll get a load of specially picked and packed heirloom Washington Navels in our store this week, delivered directly from Pleasant Oaks Ranch.
So, come on by Sigona's to enjoy a slice of California’s prized history…for FREE! You can get a bag of free Pleasant Oaks Ranch oranges starting today through March 5th with your coupon when you spend $30 or more in the store.
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