Theproducelady.Org August 2012 E-News
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
theproducelady.org AUGUST 2012 E-NEWS There may be no better time than August to be a fan of N.C. produce. Just about everything is in harvest and on tables at the farmers market! Speaking of which, National Farmers Market Week is this month, Aug. 5-11. With more than 200 markets in North Carolina, there will be plenty of activities and celebrations across the state recognizing the benefits of farmers markets and the hard work of our farmers. Make sure to visit your local market, support N.C. agriculture and – most importantly – enjoy all of those wonderful local fruits and vegetables! The Produce Basket Join the Mailing List! Summer is Sweeter The Produce Lady newsletter is distributed monthly! with Sprite Melons Sign up at www.theproducelady.org. Chances are you still might not have heard of it, but the sprite melon is one of the sweetest melons on the market. In fact, What’s In Season? its natural sugar content is 25 to 30 percent higher than other Apples, Butter Beans, Cantaloupes, melons. The juicy, firm flesh of the sprite melon is like a pear- Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplants, honeydew hybrid, and it pairs perfectly with other N.C. fresh Grapes, Green Beans, Okra, Peaches, produce. You can find sprite melons at farmers markets across Peanuts, Peas, Peppers, Plums, the state from roughly June through September. Potatoes, Sprite Melons, Squash, Sweet Onions, Sweet Potatoes, SELECTION Tomatoes, Watermelons • Search out sprites that are a pearl or pale yellow color. • Look for brown markings – called “sugar cracks” – near the stem end. These stripes are a sign of optimal sweetness. • Sniff for sweetness; the melons should give off a sweet keep it fresh fragrance. • Uncut sprite melons will continue to NUTRITION ripen at room temperature. • Sprites are low in calories (1 melon = 110 calories). • Keep cut fruit in sealed containers in • One serving (half melon) provides 150 percent of the recom- the refrigerator for up to three days. mended daily intake of vitamin C. • The melons contain no fat, which helps lower the risk of heart • To freeze, cut into slices and place disease, high blood pressure and obesity. pieces on a cookie sheet using wax paper to separate layers. Once frozen, put in plastic storage bags or contain- ers until ready to thaw and enjoy. ServinG SPRITES MADE SIMPLE Sprite melon is best served naturally as crisp, cool pieces. You’ll GOOd TaSTe need to remove the seeds, like you would with a cantaloupe, using a spoon or other utensil to scoop out the center. Try sprite SPRITE MELON MOUSSE melons in fruit salads or refreshing drinks like smoothies. Our mousse recipe goes great as a dessert or even a sweet snack. 1 1/2 cups sprite melon, cut into chunks This small melon packs a big flavor! 2 cups fat-free whipped topping Salt, to taste Mint leaves See how N.C. Farm to School helps Mash sprite melon and sprinkle with a dash schools serve more fresh, local produce: of salt. In a bowl, mix with whipped topping. www.ncfarmtoschool.com Spoon the mixture into a container and freeze. To serve, spoon into a dessert dish and garnish with mint leaves. BOrN aNd Bred iN The SOUTh Sprite melons are a North Carolina original. The N.C. Specialty Crops Program at N.C. State University introduced the melon to farmers in the ‘90s after tests showed it would grow well in Did You Know? the state’s climate. its smaller “snack size” is easier to package • The sprite melon is about the size of and ship. its naturally sweeter flavor is easier to eat! This combo a grapefruit and weighs only a pound helps it stand apart from other melons and gives N.C. growers a or so, making it an easy snack size. unique new melon for market. The sprite melon is grown almost • Annual production of N.C. sprite exclusively in North Carolina. melons roughly doubled from 2008 to 2009 – the last timeframe for which data was available – and further growth is expected. • The N.C. State melon breeding pro- gram grows hundreds of acres of sprites and is developing new varie- ties of the melon with higher plant yields, earlier ripening fruit and even better flavor. Contributing Writer: Justin Moore THE PRODUCE LADY TEAM Co-Directors Leah Chester-davis, [email protected] Brenda Sutton (The Produce Lady), [email protected] Writer Megan Bame Videographer/Editor Ken ellzey The Produce Lady is a program of N.C. MarketReady, an N.C. Cooperative Extension program located at the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis. We are part of the N.C. State University Plants for Human Health Institute. Special thanks to the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for their funding support. 8/12.