December Fruits 2025
The month of December is chock full of year-end gatherings. A moment or two to acknowledge friendships-business or personal, catch up with family, and all of them are usually food-centric. Melissa’s has a plethora of tasty produce items and ingredients that help spread cheer and thanks. And, at this time, we, too, would like to thank you for discovering our website and appreciate the opportunity to provide quality produce to you throughout the year and future.
NEW! ROYAL VINE GRAPES - LIMITED RELEASE!!!
As you may know, Melissa’s focus is on quality and specialty produce. We have a specific team whose focus is on seeking new and exotic produce, and they have secured another winner- Royal Vine Grapes! Royal Vine Grapes are a Japanese variety of grape grown with strict protocols to ensure impeccable quality in all aspects. This variety of red grape is sweet with a honey-like flavor and fragrant with thin, crisp edible skin encasing large, plump berries. Perfect as a dessert or snack, and worthy of gift giving as done in Asia. Available now through January. Product of South Korea.
NOW AVAILABLE! DUBAI CARAMEL APPLE
Dubai chocolate, a massively trending confection, we have adapted for our caramel apples. Dubai Caramel Apple is a crisp Granny Smith apple dipped in rich caramel, dark chocolate, then drizzled with pistachio nuts and kataifi-shredded phyllo dough- for added crunch and authenticity. The apples are quite large, enough to share with 6-8 persons as a luxurious, ewwy-gooey treat! Available through December. Product of the USA.
FUN CITRUS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Citrus is welcome any time of year, but especially when you want to make your meals and décor extra special. Their aroma and color add freshness and brighten up any room when added to wreaths, display bowls, or bough décor, and their flavor can perk up a dish while balancing flavors. More acidic citrus (lemons, bergamot, or Seville orange, Persian limes can be a secret weapon to temper cloying fats or richness of dishes. They are classic for neutralizing the browning of fruits and vegetables. Do not hesitate to contact Melissa’s Customer Service Department or inquire with your local grocery store produce manager regarding orders, purchases, or use and care of any produce. We are all available to help you!
LEMONS and LIMES – Lemons and limes often get a bad rap for being sour, but that is not the case. Their acid can reduce unwanted bitterness and enhance other flavors in your dish. Below are fun lemons and limes from Melissa’s, both available year-round with a couple of minor gaps.
SEEDLESS LEMONS – Loaded with juice, no pips to fish out, lots of fragrant peel. Great with artichokes, shishito peppers, preserved lemon gifts, canning, or making your own pectin, too! Available now through May. Product of the USA.
MEYER LEMONS – Smoother skin; sweeter profile. A cross between mandarin orange and lemon, this is a lower-acid lemon. Classic for desserts and drink bases, roasted baby broccoli or Brussels sprouts, lemon pies, fillings, martinis, and sorbet. Available now through March. Product of the USA, California Grown.
FINGER LIMES – Native to Australia, this finger-shaped lime contains small beads filled with lime juice. Perfect for oysters, raw or cooked seafood, ice cubes, sauces and dressings, garnish on fresh cream pies and tarts, drink glasses, and chocolate bark. Freezable up to two months. Available now through the end of the month. Product of the USA, California-grown.
KEY LIMES – Not just for summer pies topped with meringue or coconut cream, this year-round lime is the size of a small gumball, and its tart profile is used to brighten fish and seafood, beers and ales, or provide a nice tang to complement sweet desserts, drinks, and sauces.
BLOOD ORANGES and CARA CARA NAVELS – Sweet citrus flavor with a bit of tart and lots of essential oil in the peel, blood oranges are bright and festive with a raspberry finish, while Cara Cara’s outward appearance may look like an orange, it’s the raspberry pulp with a hint of strawberry finish that is worth every bite. Bloods are great for drink bases, salads, and/or a classic sorbet palate cleanser between courses, while Cara Caras are an all-around use of blood orange. Blood oranges are available now through June. Cara Caras are available through January. Both are products of the USA.
KUMQUATS – Cute little citrus, great for decorations and strung with popcorn to trim a tree! This is inside-out fruit, sweet peel with tart flesh. Great apple poppers with fizzy drinks or sliced in salads with citrus vinaigrette and nuts, candied slices to top cheesecakes, or add to quick breads. Fabulous especially with fowl or beef and refreshing with seafood, veggies, or candied yams. Available through December. Product of Chile. January to June, USA.
PUMMELO – Appearing very much like a large child’s ball, this member of the grapefruit family is mild in acid and pairs well with stronger flavors. It is often peeled and eaten one segment at a time. The segments are firm yet very juicy and refreshing even at room temperature, so consider using them in green or fruited salads. Pummelos are often given as gifts in multiples of odd numbers for good luck. Product of the USA, California-grown.
POMEGRANATE ARILS
Beautiful color to add to about any dish, drink, or dessert. The best part- no need to cut open a pomegranate and seed yourself! Juice them; sprinkle them. Coat a mound of them in melting chocolate or freeze in ice cubes for a festive look. Available year-round. Product of the USA, California, through January.
LYCHEE
Grape-like in texture but juicier. Fruit contains an inedible pit and an inedible paper-thin skin. Fabulous in martinis, curries, add to fruit grazing boards, pulsed, and added to sorbet. Pairs well with spicy foods and Asian, Indian, SE Asian, or Mexican cuisine. Product of South Africa. Available now through January.
PINEAPPLES
Did you know pineapples are a symbol of hospitality and welcoming? They may also signify wealth and good fortune. Take a gander at the varieties Melissa’s offers. All of them are fabulous possibilities for consuming, home or table decor, and the baby variety can be a stocking stuffer or small thank you, or party favor. Aside from eating, the other varieties may be used for housewarming or as a hospitality gift. Select a pineapple that is firm with a fresh green crown (except the Pinkglow® variety), heavy for its size, good even skin color with no soft or dark spots, and has a faintly sweet aroma. An indication of optimum ripeness is the ability to remove a leaf with a quick pull. Pineapples are harvested ripe and will no longer color up or sweeten. Instead, they will begin to darken and soften slightly from their high sugar content. Refrigerate unwashed until ready to prepare or serve within five days. Freezing cut and pared fruit is also a storage option, but only if the fruit will bee puréed for smoothies. Thawed pineapples lose much of their juice and texture. Pineapples also contain digestive enzymes, making them perfect for after-dinner options, but also CANNOT be used in gelatin dishes or directly on meats or other proteins (aka ham). Unless the fruit is cooked, pineapple’s digestive enzymes will soften the meat and make it mushy or prevent gelatin from setting. Pair pineapples with meat and seafood as well as other tropical fruits, ginger, pepper, chili peppers, Italian herbs, rum, caramel, cream, nuts, Asian, and Latin ingredients.
SOUTH AFRICAN BABY PINEAPPLE – Great things come in small packages, too! Consider Melissa’s Baby Pineapple from South Africa with its edible core. Simply pare away the gold skin, wrap the green crown in a thick paper towel or napkin, and dig in!!! They also make great individual upside-down cakes or small wedges for drinks and apples. Available year-round. Product of South Africa.
PINKGLOW® PINEAPPLE – You’ll be “in the pink” when you give this as a gift to the hostess with the mostest—or even treat yourself! This lower-acid pineapple boasts a sweet, classic flavor and alluring pink flesh that makes it an instant showstopper. Pinkglow® Pineapples can be prepared and served just like any other pineapple, but their beauty deserves to be highlighted in dishes and drinks that deliver the wow factor.
Use them in cocktails or as a garnish, blend into smoothies for a pop of color, or broil as a dessert with a splash of liqueur and Melissa’s Orange Habanero Salsa, topped with whipped cream. For a tropical twist on trifle, layer small, diced pineapple between pound cake, Melissa’s dessert sauce, and whipped cream or ice cream, then finish with crushed Melissa’s Coco Snax®. Available year-round. Product of Costa Rica.
HONEYGLOW® PINEAPPLE – Now this is a pineapple! Each Honeyglow® Pineapple is luscious and sweet with just a hint of acidity. One bite will transport you to a sun-drenched beach beneath swaying palm trees. Known to disappear while dinner is still being prepared, Honeyglow® sets the standard for flavor, texture, color, and density. These pineapples are generally large, offering an excellent yield, but for a smaller indulgence, try Precious® Honeyglow, about half the size, perfect for two, yet equally rich in flavor and sweetness. Truly, it is “precious”! Available year-round. Product of Costa Rica.
CHESTNUTS
From Melissa’s Chestnut Roasting Kit, perfect for traditional holiday gatherings, to fresh Italian chestnuts ready for roasting, to Organic Peeled and Steamed Chestnuts ideal for stuffing, sides, and spreads, Melissa’s offers a chestnut for every need. Our Organic Chestnut Snax™ are roasted, peeled, and packaged for convenient, protein- and fiber-rich snacking on the go. The aroma of roasting chestnuts is intoxicating, and their sweet, nutty flavor is unforgettable. Try them dipped in chocolate for an indulgent treat or lightly drizzled with Melissa’s Blue Weber Agave, Hot Honey, or Orange Habanero Salsa for a gourmet twist. Fresh Chestnuts are a product of Italy. Available through December. Chestnut Snax™ & Organic Steamed and Peeled Chestnuts are products of France. Available year-round.
HOLIDAY CHEER INGREDIENTS
TEJOCOTE – This small, deep-orange fruit contains tiny seeds and has a texture similar to guava. It is an essential ingredient in ponche, a traditional Latin American fruit punch served during Christmastime, much like glühwein, hot toddy, or mulled wine.
PILONCILLO – This unrefined sugar is made by boiling sugarcane until it becomes dark and caramelized, yielding rich, molasses-like notes that many consider to be “true” brown sugar. The hot syrup is poured into cone-shaped molds to cool and harden. To measure, simply grate from the cone or microwave and crush. Once measured, dissolve in liquids or use in place of brown sugar for hot cereals, cocktails, beverages, custards, or desserts such as capirotada (sweet bread pudding). Available year-round. Product of Mexico.
NUTMEG – Essential for most eggnog drinkers, this is the grated seed of an Indonesian evergreen with an aromatic woodsy feel and slight pine flavor. Used to add the finishing touch to mixed drinks, baked goods, cranberry sauce and cream sauces, custards, apple pie, candied sweet potatoes, and capirotada. Mace, another spice, is the outside netted cape of the nutmeg. Available year-round. Product of India.
MULLING SPICES – A mixture of warm spices- allspice, cinnamon, whole cloves, orange peel- used to season heated apple cider or wine, but many have also used the brew to make a base flavor for savory ice cream syrup, season stuffings and fruited cakes, or rehydrate dried fruits. They may also be used dried as a potpourri. Available year-round. Product of the USA.
GIFTS AND STOCKING STUFFERS
Looking for last-minute gifts? Consider a few of the below tasty seasonal treats as hostess gifts, something for the table, or stocking.
BUTTERSCOTCH™ PEAR GIFT PACK – Large enough to share with a friend or slice and add to salads, fresh fruit boards, or oatmeal, this is a three-pack of juicy, large Asian pears with tender edible skin and refreshing crunch.
HATCH PARTY PECAN MIX – A nice, clear container of four flavors of seasoned Hatch pecans. Who says you must share?? Large pecan halves coated in yogurt, dark chocolate, Hatch red pepper powder, and Hatch green pepper powder.
DRIED DATES – Often used as a natural sugar substitute in cooking or baked goods, this tender and richly sweet fruit has notes of caramel, toffee, and chocolate, and is high in natural fiber. Varieties are available stuffed with almonds, rolled in coconut, or simply as is. Dates can be used as a natural snack, to sweeten stews, curries, chicken dishes, animal meats, garnish pureed sweet potatoes and winter squashes, salads, and rice.
SPICE GRINDERS – Easy last-minute gifts for any home cook, dorm life, office pal, picnic basket, backyard barbecue, backpacker, motor home, or trailer. A variety of seasonings from Pink Himalayan Salt and Rainbow Peppercorns to Everything Spices and Spicy Sesame and Tuscan/Italian Herbs.
