Whether you are packing your picnic basket for the mountains or the seashore this Fourth of July holiday, don’t forget the MELON!

"CANTALOUPE is one of the most nutritional FRUITS you can eat" says Matt Goldthwaite, senior marketing manager for Dulcinea Farms based in Ladera Ranch, CA (www.dulcinea.com). "It’s rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Most consumers don’t realize that CANTALOUPE continues to ripen off the vine and gets sweeter and softer as it turns from green to cream color."

Goldthwaite recommends going beyond enjoying a juicy slice of ripe MELON. "CANTALOUPE makes delicious breakfast smoothies as well as blender drinks such as margaritas. Cut up CANTALOUPE to use in FRUIT medley or grill a few slices on the barbecue as a plate garnish."

HONEYDEW MELONS, unlike CANTALOUPE, are already ripe and ready to eat when at the market, with a crisper texture and more intense flavor than CANTALOUPES. Notes Goldthwaite "Like CANTALOUPE, HONEYDEWS work great in blender drinks. But more and more home chefs are discovering that finely diced HONEYDEW makes a terrific salsa or chutney ingredient."

The Pureheart Seedless WATERMELON developed by Dulcinea "is sweeter than the traditional WATERMELON and has a skin rather than a thick rind. WATERMELON actually ranks first among consumer favorites in the MELON family, followed by CANTALOUPE and HONEYDEW" reports Goldthwaite.

"Because WATERMELON has such high water content, it’s the perfect refreshing snack for hot weather. It also makes a great beverage garnish on the edge of your glass or cup."

Goldthwaite notes that some people serve their WATERMELON wedge "with a little salt or balsamic vinegar to enhance the flavor profile. One of the biggest misconceptions about this popular MELON is that thumping it will indicate ripeness. There’s actually no cavity in a WATERMELON!"

California STRAWBERRIES are among this week’s best FRUIT values, with quality excellent. Use as a topping for waffles, blend with BANANAS, tofu and ice for a delicious beverage, or use slices in FRUIT tarts.

MANGOS are plentiful at economical prices. Enjoy them in chutney recipes.

BING CHERRIES are holding steady at premium prices due to lighter than usual volume from California and they are in high demand. New crop is arriving from the Pacific Northwest, including RAINIER CHERRIES.

Vine-ripened TOMATOES have decreased in price to economical levels. Add slices to pizza topping, use in zesty salsa dips or dice finely to blend with olive oil and fresh HERBS for a no-cook pasta sauce.

Large sizes of HASS AVOCADOS continue to be an excellent value. Blend ripe AVOCADOS with sour cream and HERBS and serve chilled as a chip dip.

There are plenty of excellent choices in the MELON bin, ranging from seedless WATERMELON to more exotic SPRITE MELONS, PERSIAN, SHARLYN and CASABA MELONS. Remember to keep any MELON variety refrigerated at the proper temperature once you cut into the whole FRUIT for food safety.

As summer STONEFRUIT season progresses, there is good volume on APRICOTS, PLUOTS (a PLUM-APRICOT hybrid), PEACHES and NECTARINES, with prices gradually decreasing on all varieties.

New crop THOMPSON SEEDLESS GRAPES are still at premium prices until volume improves.

Green KIWIFRUIT is an economical value and rich in Vitamin C.

Best CITRUS FRUIT values include PINK GRAPEFRUIT, LEMONS and LIMES.

LETTUCE is an excellent value in the VEGETABLE category this week, with plentiful supplies on a number of varieties, including ICEBERG, ROMAINE, RED LEAF and BIBB LETTUCES. Salad toppings in steady supply include ITALIAN RED ONIONS, RADISHES, GREEN ONIONS, MUSHROOMS, CARROTS, JICAMA, CELERY and fresh HERBS.

CUCUMBERS are a very good value this week. Slice and toss with TOMATOES and mozzarella cheese cubes in BASIL vinaigrette for a refreshing summer salad.

GREEN BEAN volume is increasing, with prices at moderate levels. Blanche and mix with CARROTS, ZUCCHINI, SPINACH and SNOW PEAS as a filling for wraps.

Must-haves for grilled ka-bobs in good supply include BUTTON MUSHROOMS, CHERRY TOMATOES, PEARL ONIONS, GREEN and RED BELL PEPPERS and GARLIC.

Both BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER continue to be excellent values.

RED ROSE POTATOES are decreasing in price, perfect timing for trying your favorite POTATO salad recipe. These POTATOES are also delicious steamed with the skin-in, then tossed in browned butter or pesto sauce.

GREEN CABBAGE is an economical value. Shred and use in ASIAN cole slaw or in egg roll fillings.

BEET production is winding down. Boil or roast and enjoy as a side dish.

JALAPENO PEPPERS are an economical value. Remove the hot seeds, stuff with cheese, dip in beer batter and fry for a spicy appetizer that’s great with cold beer.

Cut ROSES, DAISIES, SUNFLOWERS, CARNATIONS, SNAPDRAGONS, IRIS and LILIES are plentiful for colorful summer bouquets. In potted plants, look for tropical ANTHURIUM, DAISIES, MUMS and KALANCHOE to be in good supply.

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