fruity. It’s best to hold a honeydew at room

fruity. It’s best to hold a honeydew at room tempature for a few days to get an even tastier product.

Persian-These melons have a yellow skin and finer netting that cantaloupe, but more orange flesh and larger size.

Crenshaw-These have a yelloworange flesh and a mottled-green skin that turns to a golden yellow as the melon ripens.

Storing Melons

Fresh melons can be damaged by improper handling and storage, especially improper refrigeration. For your family to enjoy maximum flavor, serve melons within a few days after ripening. If the melons are firm when purchased, store at room temperature 1-2 days.

After 1-2 days, the blossom ends will yield to gently thumb pressure, and the ripe melons should be placed in the refrigerator. Ripe cantaloupe and honeydew will keep 2-3 days in the refrigerator; uncut watermelon keeps about one week, while cut watermelon keeps up to two days. It’s also a good idea to wrap cut melon with plastic wrap or store in a plastic container so it will not absorb any refrigerator odors.

Cantaloupe-Cheese Salad

2 cups cantaloupe balls

1 1/2 cups cubed, unpeeled apple

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup seedless green grapes

1/4 cup commercial sour cream

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Leaf lettuce

Additional crumbled blue cheese (optional)

Combine first 4 ingredients. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and 1/4 cup blue cheese; stir well. Pour over cantaloupe mixture; toss gently.

Arrange lettuce leaves on individual salad plates; spoon cantaloupe mixture on top. Garnish with additional blue cheese, if desired. Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

Watermelon Punch

1 large watermelon

1 (6-ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted

1/2 cup lemon juice

3 cups ginger ale, chilled

Cut off top of melon; scoop out unseeded flesh, and place about 3 cups in container of an electric