Melons

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This category encompasses a wide range of melons within two different genus and species—Cucumis melo, which include cantaloupes, muskmelons, honeydews, canary and Crenshaw; watermelons are Citrullus lanatus. Look for melons that have a fruity aroma and sound hollow when thumped.

If growing melons at home, keep the vines and leaves up off the ground and spray with a sulfur spray after each rain. The key to sweet melons is in caring for the leaves, which are the sugar factories for the plant. Melons require a lot of attention in Wisconsin’s humid, mildew- and mold-prone summer climate.

Cantelope and watermelon are on the Environmental Working Group’s “Clean 15” list of foods that show the least pesticide contamination. Choosing organic melons, however, is a good way to support the health of farm workers and local organic farmers.

Fun Fact: There is a type of heirloom muskmelon called the Pride of Wisconsin that many seed companies say has “a great old-fashioned flavor” and is “reminiscent of roadside farmstands.”

Nutrition: Melons are mostly water, so they are not high in nutrients. If looking for more nutrients, choose red or orange fleshed melons.