February 2026 Fruit

THE LADY IS IN THE HOUSE!!! CHARENTAIS MELONS
After enduring Mother Nature’s severe weather conditions, Charentais has pulled through and is ready to go to the dance! Please see information below under Melons.

NOW AVAILABLE! SPECIALTY STRAWBERRIES (Available for a very short time!)
PINEBERRIES: This lower-acid berry is a hybrid white strawberry and is very fragile. It has a light floral aroma and a mild, sweet profile. Available through March. Product of the USA.

JEWEL BOX™ STRAWBERRIES: Japan has a friendly competition to grow the finest, most perfect, and flavorful strawberries. Each berry is carefully cared for from planting to harvest and is considered a “gem.” When available, colors range from white (high sugar, low acidity), to pink with hints of white peach, to red with exceptional sweetness and a touch of acidity. Best enjoyed on their own or paired with crisp whites, sparkling wine, romaine, fresh seafood, or luxurious fruit grazing boards. Product of Japan. Available through March.

UGLI FRUIT
This fruit may look downright ugly—hence the name—but its flavor is a pleasant mandarin-grapefruit blend that’s hard to resist. Also known as Jamaican Tangelo, the bronze peel is easy to remove, revealing low-acid citrus segments that pair well with avocado, mild cheeses, seafood, and pork. Select fruit that feels heavy for its size and has more yellow than brown; brown spots do not affect quality. Store in the crisper drawer for up to two weeks. Product of Jamaica. Available now through April.

BUTTERSCOTCH™ PEAR
A refreshing, low-calorie snack, Melissa’s Butterscotch™ Pears are a larger apple pear with a smaller seed cavity and thin, edible skin. They have a crunchy, juicy texture and hold their shape well when baked, poached, or roasted. Low in acid, they resist oxidation. Try them with Melissa’s Chile Lime powder or drizzled with dessert sauce and crushed Coconut Clean Snax®.

Traditionally sliced into discs rather than lengthwise, these pears should be firm, heavy, and bruise-free. Often sold with protective socks, they can be stored on the counter up to five days or refrigerated up to three weeks. Apple pears do not freeze well. Grown in South Korea. Available now through March.

SAND PEAR
Another crunchy pear variety, Sand Pears have a mildly grainy texture and bright white flesh. Low in calories and sugar, they provide hydration and fiber with a mild sweetness. Perfect for eating out of hand or adding to fresh-cut fruit. Product of China. Available now through April.

KIWI BERRIES
Originating in China, kiwi berries are not baby kiwis but small, smooth-skinned berries from a bush. They contain more Vitamin C than kiwifruit and provide digestive enzymes and lutein for eye health. Sweet, tender, and bright green inside, they should be firm and free of shriveling. Ripen on the counter for two days, then refrigerate up to four days. Wash and dry before serving. Product of Chile and New Zealand.

GRAPES
It’s summer in South America, and grape season is here! These sweet, candy-like fruits arrive just as U.S. weather shifts to cooler crops. 

Select plump, firm grapes with fresh stems and no mold. Refrigerate unwashed in perforated bags for up to ten days. Wash and dry before serving.

COTTON CANDY® GRAPES: A perennial favorite with nostalgic fairground flavor. Available until April. Product of Peru.
MUSCATOS™ GRAPES: Melissa’s signature grapes in green, black, and red varieties. Ideal for grazing boards, roasted dishes, or frozen into granita. Product of Peru and Chile. Available through April.

MELONS FROM THE SOUTH
Who says muskmelon season must wait until April? Specialty varieties are grown in southern regions such as Mexico, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Sweet, refreshing, and nutrient-dense, melons are rich in Vitamins A and C.

Select melons that feel heavy, smell fragrant, and yield slightly at the blossom end. Store unwashed at room temperature to ripen, then refrigerate whole up to two weeks. Once cut, refrigerate up to one week or freeze up to three months.

ORANGE CANDY™ MELON: Candy-like flavor without being overly sweet. Great for smoothies and frescas. Product of Mexico. Available through March/April.
MAG MELON: Sweeter than standard cantaloupe with a smaller seed cavity and more edible flesh. Product of Guatemala. Available now through April.

MELISSA’S HERB’S HOUSE COFFEE
February is chocolate season, and coffee is the perfect pairing. Coffee beans are actually fruit, harvested from ripened berries. Melissa’s sources Herb’s House Coffee from small-batch growers around the world, following seasonal origins. Enjoy traveling the globe one cup at a time. Available year-round.