Where did cantaloupes originate from?
The cantaloupe most likely originated in a region from South Asia to Africa. It was later introduced to Europe, and around 1890, became a commercial crop in the United States. Melon derived from use in Old French as meloun during the 13th century, and from Medieval Latin melonem, a kind of pumpkin.
Where is cantaloupe grown in the world?
‘I lived in a village in the north, 600km [373 miles] from Krasnoyarsk,’ says the prop, occasionally checking the translation app on his phone to help find his words. Kirill Gotovtsev has had a wild journey from his Siberian upbringing to the Gloucester team
What cantaloupes can do for your health?
How to eat more cantaloupe
- It's super hydrating. When it comes to fruits with high water content, watermelon (surprise!) takes top billing—but cantaloupe isn't far behind. ...
- It has antioxidant power. Antioxidants (i.e. ...
- It could help you have a healthier pregnancy. ...
- It has a whole day's worth of vitamin C. ...
- It's a good source of potassium. ...
- It keeps your eyes healthy. ...
What is the origin of the word cantaloupe?
cantaloupe (n.) also cantaloup, small, round type of melon, 1739, from French, from Italian, from Cantalupo, name of a former Papal summer estate near Rome, where the melons first were grown in Europe after their introduction (supposedly from Armenia). The place name seems to be "singing wolf" and might refer to a spot where wolves gathered, but this might be folk etymology.
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Who named cantaloupe?
The name "cantaloupe," though, definitely did come from either Italy or France, and arrived in English to describe the melon by 1739, when Philip Miller described "The Cantaleupt Melon" as having "Flesh...of a rich vinous Flavour" in his Gardeners Dictionary.
Who introduced cantaloupe to America?
In 1493 Christopher Columbus embarked on his second voyage to the New World with 17 ships and 1200 men.
Where does the cantaloupe come from?
Most likely they come from Guatemala with a portion coming from Costa Rica, Honduras or Mexico during this time. Here in California, farmers will begin harvesting cantaloupes in the southern desert area as early as April and into July.
Who invented melon?
Melons are known to have been grown by the ancient Egyptians. However, recent discoveries of melon seeds dated between 1350 and 1120 BC in Nuragic sacred wells have shown that melons were first brought to Europe by the Nuragic civilization of Sardinia during the Bronze Age.
Why is it named cantaloupe?
The name cantaloupe was derived in the 18th century via French cantaloup from The Cantus Region of Italian Cantalupo, which was formerly a papal county seat near Rome, after the fruit was introduced there from Armenia.
Why is cantaloupe not called a melon?
The European name for the melon comes from the area near Rome called Cantaluppi, a former papal seat, where the fruit was "grown after being introduced from Armenia." Hence, the original "cantaloupe." The European varietal has wartier, unnetted pale green skin with a hard rind and deep vein tracts.
How old is the cantaloupe?
It was originally cultivated about the year 1700 from seeds brought from Armenia, part of the homeland of melons. The most widely enjoyed variety of European cantaloupe is the Charentais, cultivated almost exclusively in France.
Is it healthy to eat cantaloupe?
The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C present in cantaloupe are vital nutrients for your heart health. Potassium can help to lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Fiber helps to decrease levels of “bad cholesterol” in your body. It can also keep your blood pressure in check.
Is watermelon or cantaloupe better for you?
Cantaloupe has more immune system-boosting vitamin C than watermelon. It contains lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that help to prevent macular degeneration, in which the retina deteriorates.
Is watermelon Man made?
They started out as small, hard, bitter fruits, somewhere in Southern or Western Africa. As generations of people selectively planted seeds from fruits that were larger and tastier, they created the sweet, red watermelon we know today. In the process, however, watermelon plants lost much of their genetic diversity.
Is cantaloupe a real fruit?
The cantaloupe is a juicy, orange summer fruit that's related to the watermelon and honeydew melon. It also belongs to the same plant family as cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, and gourds. The semi-sweet cantaloupes most familiar to people in the U.S. are a type of muskmelon called Cucumis melo reticulatus.
Where was watermelon first found?
northeastern AfricaKey Findings Archaeological remains of watermelons, mostly seeds, that date from 5000 years ago have been found in northeastern Africa. An image of a large, striped, oblong fruit on a tray has been found in an Egyptian tomb that dates to at least 4000 years ago.
How did the cantaloupe get its name?
The story goes that the cantaloupe gets its name from Cantalupo di Sabina, a town in the Sabine Hills, where the papacy had a country estate.
Where did the name "cantaloupe" come from?
The name "cantaloupe," though, definitely did come from either Italy or France, and arrived in English to describe the melon by 1739, when Philip Miller described "The Cantaleupt Melon" as having "Flesh...of a rich vinous Flavour" in his Gardeners Dictionary.
What does Cantalupo mean?
Cantalupo, itself, simply means "howling wolves" in Italian, and it's said that the luscious melon was first grown there, for the popes, before picking up the name and spreading around Europe. The problem, though, is that this might just be a nice story.
Who was the Pope obsessed with melons?
An envoy from the East arrives, from the technically damned Armenian arm of the Christian world, bearing the gift of melons, webbed with white and softly orange on the inside. Pope Paul II became famously obsessed with melons during his reign, and the juicy fruit were his ultimate undoing.
Where did the vine originate?
The vine's ancient origin was likely Persia or India, but varieties of the single melon species (all honeydews, cantaloupes, and similar non-watermelons are all just different varieties) had been grown in the Mediterranean for millennia.
Background
Cantaloupe (scientific name: Cucumis melo L. cantaloupe) are also known as the muskmelon (Cucumis melo). They are part of the Cucurbitaceae plant family, which also includes other melons, like watermelons, as well as pumpkins, squashes, gourds, and cucumbers. [1. Kemble, J.
Land Use
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Irrigation
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pest management
Using varieties that are bred to be resistant to certain pests and do not require pesticides cantaloupe in Colorado have very little need for pesticides
Harvest
Conveyor belt machine in the field Caleb are handpicked and then placed on conveyor belt to be taken to another central loading facility or packed in the field
food safety
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Author
James Peth, MS, MPH, PhD is an Assistant Prof. in Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
What family is cantaloupe in?
Cantaloupes are in the Cucurbitaceae, or gourd family, which includes other plants that grow on a vine, such as watermelon, honeydew and casaba melons, as well as pumpkins, squash and cucumbers. According to the University of Illinois Extension, the cantaloupe is a variety of muskmelon.
Which state produces the most cantaloupe?
California is the largest cantaloupe-producing state in the country. Over half of all U.S. cantaloupes are grown there. The next six states are Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana and Texas. The United States also imports cantaloupes each year, primarily from Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico.
How to clean a cantaloupe before eating?
Scrub the outer surface of the melon with a vegetable brush under cool tap water before eating the fruit. Pat the fruit dry with paper towels to remove excess water. Using a clean knife and cutting board, cut off the stem end (where the fruit was attached to the vine) of the cantaloupe and throw it out.
How to cut cantaloupe?
Tips for cutting cantaloupe 1 Purchase melons without any visible bruises, cracks or soft spots on the skin. 2 Wash hands with soap and water before handling cantaloupes. 3 Scrub the outer surface of the melon with a vegetable brush under cool tap water before eating the fruit. Pat the fruit dry with paper towels to remove excess water. 4 Using a clean knife and cutting board, cut off the stem end (where the fruit was attached to the vine) of the cantaloupe and throw it out. Studies have found that this area is most likely to have bacterial contamination. 5 Cut the entire melon in half and scoop out the seeds and strings. Using a knife or melon baller, cut up the orange flesh. 6 After cutting up the melon, wash any utensils and cutting boards used in hot, soapy water and refrigerate the sliced melon.
What is the difference between cantaloupe and European cantaloupe?
North American cantaloupes ( Cucumis melo reticulatus) are known for their uniform "netting" over the rind; European cantaloupes ( Cucumis melo cantalupensis) have greener skin, little netting, deep grooves and would surprise most Americans by being called cantaloupes.
Why is cantaloupe a foodborne illness?
Cantaloupe may be vulnerable to outbreaks of foodborne illness because the fruit is grown in close contact with the ground, where it may become contaminated with bacteria from the soil, water or animals before it is harvested , according to Colorado State University.
How to cut a melon into a melon baller?
Cut the entire melon in half and scoop out the seeds and strings. Using a knife or melon baller, cut up the orange flesh. After cutting up the melon, wash any utensils and cutting boards used in hot, soapy water and refrigerate the sliced melon.
Where does cantaloupe come from?
While the U.S. exported 179 million pounds, over 1.0 billion pounds of cantaloupe were imported in 2017. Most imported product comes from Guatemala, with Honduras, Mexico, and Costa Rica supplying a significant amount also.
How are cantaloupes harvested?
Cantaloupes are harvested by hand, typically during what is known as the three-quarters to full-slip stage , when melons are mature/ripe, with a more golden appearance, when sugar levels are highest, and when the fruit begins to easily separate from the stem with a twist or pull. Over a 10–14 day period, fields are harvested 8 to 10 times. If pathogens are present during this time, they can become attached to the cantaloupe rind, particularly where the stem was removed (the stem scar).
How many people died from cantaloupe in 2011?
In 2011, the contamination of fresh, whole cantaloupes resulted in a multi-state outbreak of listeriosis and resulted in 147 illnesses and 33 deaths. An environmental assessment conducted after the outbreak concluded suggests that the combination of available nutrients on the rind, increased rind water activity, and insufficient cooling to remove field heat before cold storage created an ideal environment for the growth of Listeria
Why do cantaloupes have a ground spot?
The presence of a ground spot increases the risk for microbial growth and pathogen contamination.
How many calories are in cantaloupe?
Cantaloupes are a low-calorie (27 calories per 1/2 cup serving), nutrient-dense fruit. They are a rich source of vitamin A (β-carotene), vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, and the micronutrients copper, iron, and zinc. Cantaloupe is naturally low in sodium and contains some dietary fiber and calcium.
What type of soil is best for cantaloupe?
Sandy soils are used for the earliest plantings because they warm more rapidly in the spring, while loam and clay loam soils are preferred for main-season production due to greater water-holding capacity, which favors a prolonged harvest period. Most cantaloupes are direct seeded, in a single seed line per bed.
What is Rocky Ford cantaloupe?
Many consider Rocky Ford cantaloupes to be some of the best. They are known for their quality and sweetness, which is the result of the seed used and the type of soil in the region —a sandy loam or clay-loam soil—as well as certain production practices used.
What is a cantaloupe?
Cantaloupes are a type of melon with a tan-green rind. Typically, the rind is covered in a spiderweb-like pattern, though some varieties may also be striped. Inside, the flesh is bright orange and sweet. Their growing requirements are similar to that of other popular melons, such as watermelons and honeydew melons. Cantaloupes vs. Muskmelons.
How to tell when cantaloupe is ripe?
Be careful not to pick too early, however. Look for a crack in the stem where it attaches to the fruit. This is a sign of ripeness as well.
How long can you keep cantaloupe uncut?
Melons will soften after harvesting, but will not continue to sweeten off the vine. Cantaloupe can be stored uncut for 5 or 6 days.
What kind of soil do cantaloupes like?
Cantaloupes do best in well-draining soil that’s a mix between loamy and sandy. Plant in a spot that gets full sun. To produce the best melons, the plants need all the light they can get. Plus, afternoon sun will dry off leaves, reducing the risk of fungal and other diseases that come with wet foliage.
Why do my muskmelon vines taste bland?
If your muskmelons taste bland, the trouble could be a lack of magnesium in sandy soil. Sweeten the fruit by spraying the vines with this solution: Dissolve 6 ½ tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 ⅓ tablespoons of borax in 5 gallons of water.
What is the sweetest melons?
Hot, dry weather produces the sweetest melons. If you’ve had an exceptional amount of rainfall during the ripening stage, this can cause bland fruit. Once fruit begins to grow, prune end buds off vines. Your plants may produce fewer melons, but they will be larger and of better quality.
Can you transplant cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe vines are very tender and should not be transplanted until all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures remain above 60°F (16°C). If you live in a warmer climate, you may direct sow seeds outdoors as soon as the soil temperature warms to at least 60°F (16°C).
Overview
Etymology and origin
The name cantaloupe was derived in the 18th century via French cantaloup from The Cantus Region of Italian Cantalupo, which was formerly a papal county seat near Rome, after the fruit was introduced there from Armenia. It was first mentioned in English literature in 1739. The cantaloupe most likely originated in a region from South Asia to Africa. It was later introduced to Europe, and around 1890, became a commercial crop in the United States.
Types
The European cantaloupe, C. melo var. cantalupensis, is lightly ribbed with a sweet and flavorful flesh and a gray-green skin that looks quite different from that of the North American cantaloupe.
The North American cantaloupe, C. melo var. reticulatus, common in the United States, Mexico, and some parts of Canada, is a different variety of C. melo, a m…
Production
In 2016, global production of melons, including cantaloupes, totaled 31.2 million tons, with China accounting for 51% of the world total (15.9 million tons). Other significant countries growing cantaloupe were Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and India producing 1 to 1.9 million tons, respectively.
California grows 75% of the cantaloupes in the US.
Consumption
Cantaloupe is normally eaten as a fresh fruit, as a salad, or as a dessert with ice cream or custard. Melon pieces wrapped in prosciutto are a familiar antipasto. The seeds are edible and may be dried for use as a snack.
Because the surface of a cantaloupe can contain harmful bacteria—in particular, Salmonella —it is recommended that a melon be washed and scrubbed thoroughly before cutting and consumptio…
See also
• Melon
External links
• Media related to Cucumis melo cantaloupe group at Wikimedia Commons
• Sorting Cucumis names– Multilingual multiscript plant name database