Description: A large globe shaped fruit characterized by a webbed surface. Cantaloupes have a smooth and lumpy skin with deep ridges.

Availability: Year Round and Summer
 

Facts: Cantaloupes and melons are in the same gourd family as squashes and cucumbers. Cantaloupes were cultivated in Egypt's Nile valley as early as 2000 B.C. Most melons have similar structure to winter squash with thick flesh and inner seed-filled midsection. The difference between melons and squashes is the way that they are used. Squashes are considered vegetables, while cantaloupe melon is fruit, with sweet and juicy flavor. This sweet fruit contains more vitamin A than any other fruit. One serving (¼ of a medium melon) provides more than 400 percent of your daily vitamin A, and it also provides nearly 100 percent of your daily vitamin C!

Serving Size = 1 CUP
 
Storage: Choose fragrant, symmetrical melons, heavy for size with no visible bruises and yellow or cream undertone.  Stem end should give to gentle pressure.
 
Selection: Store uncut at room temperature up to 1 week.  Refrigerate cut melon in airtight container up to 5 days.

Nutrition Benefits: Fat free; saturated fat free; very low sodium; cholesterol free; high in vitamin A; high in vitamin C; good source of folate.

Pigments: beta-carotene, alpha-carotene

Phytochemicals: rutin, ferulic acid, glutathione

ORAC: 252