Pollinators are Worth Protecting

A 2022 study showed that prioritizing the wellbeing of local wild bee populations is more important to producing more productive yields of watermelon than prioritizing pest management (i.e., using pesticides).¹ Organic farming practices prioritize wild bees by refusing toxic pesticides that wipe out colonies, and instead rely on diversifying crops and planting cover crops like clover to keep bees healthy, happy, and present where their work is needed. So perhaps this gardening season while you sow pollinator-friendly seeds like lavender and calendula flowers, reward your hard work with a refreshing organic melon snack!

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupes are the quiet ones at the party. You can always depend on them being there, and though they give off an air of a humble personality, they may just surprise you with their burst of sweetness. Cantaloupes are high in potassium and vitamin C² and the pigments that give them their beautiful color are also beneficial to our health—the beta carotene that makes cantaloupe orange is an antioxidant that’s well known for supporting healthy eye function.³

Party fact: In 2019, a pair of Yubari King melons (a variety of cantaloupe) sold for $45,000 in Japan.⁴

Watermelon

This vibrant and versatile fruit brings the fun to the party. Family gatherings, pool parties, and long sunny days in the park, watermelon is the lively one that brings everyone together. Watermelons are packed with vitamins A and C that our bodies need for immune support, nerve function, and skin and eye health.⁵ Watermelons are also an especially great source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives these melons their effervescent red color. Lycopene supports heart and brain health, eyesight, fights free radicals, and has even been shown to provide acute protection against UV damage.^{6 7} Perfect for those parties in the sunshine! (Though, don’t forget to bring the sunscreen, too!)

Party fact: A melon worthy of its name, watermelons are made up of 92 percent water.

Honeydew

Honeydews are the quirky party guests—they’re subdued, yet sweet as honey. It just wouldn’t be a good time without them. Honeydews are rich in vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium. Armed with these nutrients, honeydew supports bone health and the maintenance of bone density. Honeydews are made of 90 percent water, and along with the minerals they contain, like magnesium and potassium, they make a great electrolyte to refuel after a workout or a party by the lake in the sun.⁸

Party fact: Rocky Ford, Colorado is considered the melon capital of the world!

Try Our Melon Caprese Salad

Summer is for salads, but you don’t always have to fall back on leafy greens! This melon caprese salad combines the sweet juiciness of cantaloupe with salty prosciutto and soft buffalo mozzarella cheese, topped with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar—the perfect combo of sweet, savory, and creamy!

GET THE RECIPE

References

1. Leach, A., & Kaplan, I. (2022). Prioritizing pollinators over pests: wild bees are more important than beetle damage for watermelon yield. Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological Sciences, 289(1986), 20221279–20221279. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.1279
2. Perkins‐Veazie, P., Beaulieu, J. C., & Siddiq, M. (2012). Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. Tropical and subtropical fruits: postharvest physiology, processing and packaging, 549-568.
3. Blumfield, M., Mayr, H., De Vlieger, N., Abbott, K., Starck, C., Fayet-Moore, F., & Marshall, S. (2022). Should We ‘Eat a Rainbow’? An Umbrella Review of the Health Effects of Colorful Bioactive Pigments in Fruits and Vegetables. Molecules, 27(13), 4061.
4. Floyd, C., & Shardlow, J. (2019, October 25). These melons can sell for as much as $22,500 each in Japan. Business Insider. Retrieved March 2023, from https://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-melons-cost-price-so-expensive…
5. Maoto, M. M., Beswa, D., & Jideani, A. I. (2019). Watermelon as a potential fruit snack. International Journal of food properties, 22(1), 355-370.
6. Rizwan, M., Rodriguez-Blanco, I., Harbottle, A., Birch-Machin, M. A., Watson, R. E., & Rhodes, L. E. (2011). Tomato paste rich in lycopene protects against cutaneous photodamage in humans in vivo: a randomized controlled trial. The British journal of dermatology, 164(1), 154–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.10057.x
7. Naz, A., Butt, M. S., Sultan, M. T., Qayyum, M. M. N., & Niaz, R. S. (2014). Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims. EXCLI journal, 13, 650.
8. Perkins‐Veazie, P., Beaulieu, J. C., & Siddiq, M. (2012). Watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. Tropical and subtropical fruits: postharvest physiology, processing and packaging, 549-568.