Are you tired of the same old cantaloupes and honeydews? For melon lovers looking for something a little different, a canary melon may be just the thing. It is a large and brightly colored oval-shaped melon that is often slightly larger than cantaloupes or honeydew melons. This variety is grown by Itaueira farms in Northeastern Brazil with a growing season starting in November and continuing through the winter months. The melon is characterized by a bright yellow outer skin. The interior is usually a green that is slightly paler than honeydew, and in some cases, it may appear to be almost white with just a hint of green. With a light, pleasing aroma, the canary is very juicy and has a tendency to enhance the taste of other fruits when mixed into fruit salads.

Since 1983, Itaueira Farms has been focused on growing top-quality fruits. The company, which is owned and operated by the Carlos Prado and his family, sells melons year round in Brazil and exports product to the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Along with earning consumer confidence in the flavor and quality of its melons, Itaueira also strives to earn the trust of its customers with regard to food safety, according to Rodrigo Lima of Crown International USA LLC, which markets the melons in the United States for Itaueira Farms. Mr. Lima says that “REI” canary melons have traceability on the box level and will soon have traceability on the item level: “We have been experimenting with stickering each piece of fruit with bar codes that are fully traceable, and we have seen great success with that in Brazil. We plan to begin testing that here in the U.S.”

What to look for in Canary Melons

When choosing a good quality canary melon, consumers should make sure the body of the melon is firm. The presence of any soft spots along the body is an indication that the melon has passed its prime, but it should be slightly soft around the stem area. If the stem area is still firm, then the melon is not yet ripe enough to be eaten.

Along with the general firmness of the melon, shoppers should play close attention to the color of the rind or skin. A ripe canary melon will be bright yellow with few or no blemishes. Shoppers must be sure to check closely for hints of green on the skin, which will indicate that the melon was picked early and will need to ripen before it will be ready to eat. The sweet flavor will not be fully developed until the ripening is complete, so there is no point in choosing a green melon if it will be chilled and served the same day.

Foodie Facts & Tips

• As with most melons, the canary melon is packed with vitamins including A & C—a sweet snack that’s actually good for you!
• Each box displays a Field harvest code number, which can be traced to the origin of each melon crop.
• Try wrapping canary melons with salty prosciutto for a complementary flavor duo.

Honeybell oranges are exceptionally sweet and juicy citrus fruits which only reach peak ripeness during the month of January. Also known as Minneola tangelos, Honeybell oranges are not actually oranges at all. Similar to Jamaican Ugli fruit, they are a hybrid or cross between the Darcy variety of tangerine and either the Duncan or Bowen variety of grapefruit. This hybridization process, which some sources say can be traced back to the ancient Orient, yields a tangelo with the coloring and size of a grapefruit and the sweetness and juiciness of a tangerine. Honeybell oranges are prized for their sweetness and relative scarcity, along with their abundant supply of juice.

Many customers order Honeybell oranges months in advance of their actual due date in January. A few strains may be ready to ship in late December, but the majority of the Honeybell crop reaches maximum ripeness during the last weeks of January, or possibly early February. Virtually all Honeybell orange trees in the United States grow along the Indian River in Florida, and the crop yield is often regarded as unpredictable from year to year. Growers take orders for the oranges throughout the year, but can only harvest the crop during January and February. Great care must be taken while harvesting Honeybell oranges in order to avoid damaging the distinctively bell-shaped stem end of the fruit, which actually inspired the name for the fruit itself.

Ossau-iraty is produced in southwestern France, in the Northern Basque Country and in Béarn. Ossau-Iraty is rather medium-soft, light in color and has very complex yet delicately smooth flavors. Made from the milk of Manech and Basco-Bearnaise ewes, this cheese tastes slightly akin to cow’s cheeses of similar texture (i.e. alps cheese). After three months of ripening in cool and humid cellars, Ossau-Iraty acquires its characteristics of a tender, soft, ivory body. Its orange rind turns ash gray when stored at length. Its taste is simultaneously nutty and sweet, with hints of olive, hazelnut and fig and a rich, smooth finish. The edible, slightly tart rind also adds considerably to the experience.

Its name reflects its geographical location: the Ossau Valley in Béarn and the Iraty Valley in the Northern Basque Country. It has been recognized as an appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) product since 1980. It is one of only two sheep’s milk cheeses granted AOC status in France. (The other is Roquefort). Although Ossau-Iraty received AOC status in the 80s, it is of ancient origin, traditionally made by the shepherds in the region.

Pair it up!

• Ossau-Iraty is ideal for the cheese board, and can be enjoyed with bread, black cherry jam and honey, or even with fruit.
• This wine-friendly cheese tickles the palate with Pinot Gris, Bordeaux Blanc, any medium-to-full bodied Merlot, or rare local Basque wine, such as Irouléguy.
• You can also pair it with a California Sémillon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Madiran.

Ossau-Iraty “Quiche” Recipe

For the pastry

• 1 cup plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• salt
• 5 Tbsp butter, plus extra for greasing

For the filling

• 3 cups Ossau-Iraty, grated
• 1 head of broccoli
• 1/2 pound bacon, chopped
• 5 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup double cream
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme

Preparation method

1. To make the pastry, sift the flour together with a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter until you have a soft breadcrumb texture. Add enough cold water to make the crumb mixture come together to form a firm dough, and then place it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
2. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and line a 8-9 inch well-buttered pie or cake pan. Chill again.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
4. Remove the pastry case from the refrigerator and line the base of the pastry with baking parchment, and then fill it with baked beans. Place on a baking tray and bake blind (without the filling) for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and wax paper and return to the oven for another five minutes to cook the base
5. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 325°F.
6. Sprinkle the cheese into the pastry base and add the broccoli, if desired. Fry the bacon pieces until crisp and sprinkle them over the top.
7. Combine the eggs with the milk and cream in a bowl and season well. Pour over the bacon and cheese. Sprinkle the thyme over the top and trim the edges of the pastry.
8. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until set. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool and set further.
9. Trim the pastry edges to get a perfect edge, then serve in wedges.

Moro oranges, commonly known as “Blood Oranges,” are available from January through mid April. Moros are small to medium sized with a thin skin and few or no seeds. Slice open a Moro and you’ll see how they get their name: the cross sections are a dramatic and beautiful bright red to deep maroon color. Take a bite and you’ll become a fan of the intense orange taste with hints of fresh raspberry.

Juicy Fact
All oranges contain carotene — that’s what makes them orange. Moros get their red color from high concentrations of a pigment called anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes the effects of free radicals, which are the agents believed to be responsible for cancer, aging and other health ailments.

Moro Orange Tips

• Enjoy Moros out of hand, use them for an interesting juice or showcase their jewel-like color in recipes.
• Toss slices or segments into salads, salsas and chutneys.
• The intense flavor of Moro oranges is wonderful with roasted or grilled meat and poultry.
• Melt a couple of tablespoons of orange marmalade in the microwave and tumble in one peeled, diced Moro orange for a quick and exotic sauce.