Product Spotlight Fruit
Summer may officially end in a week, but there's still plenty of time to savor the season's vibrant flavors while welcoming the first tastes of autumn. Enjoy refreshing citrus, sweet specialty grapes, exotic fruits that transport your taste buds to faraway destinations, and crisp new-season apples that make the transition into fall delicious.
YUZU CITRUS
Very popular thanks to the growing appreciation of Japanese cuisine and culinary fusion, this small, tart yet floral-fragranced citrus adds character to sauces, teas, broths, pastes, and rubs. A hybrid of bitter orange, citron, and a variety of grapefruit, yuzu has dimpled skin and is about the size of an Ojai Pixie Tangerine. As it ripens, the peel turns from dark green to golden yellow and is rich in fragrant essential oils, so don't toss it. Use the zest in marinades, curds, dressings, homemade yuzu kosho, rubs, or even enjoy the traditional Japanese custom of bathing with yuzu for good luck! While the flesh is quite seedy compared to its juice yield, the seeds are naturally high in pectin, making them perfect for homemade jams and jellies. Yuzu is often combined with other ingredients to create ponzu, a classic condiment for sashimi and cooked dishes, as well as flavorful syrups, teas, frostings, and more.
SUDACHI CITRUS
Sudachi is a hybrid of mandarin and sour citrus and is used differently than yuzu. This smooth-skinned, golf ball-sized fruit has dark green skin, bright green-yellow flesh, and a pleasant tart flavor. Use it just as you would a lime by squeezing it over fresh or cooked seafood, soups, ramen, baked goods, frozen treats, or refreshing cocktails. Both yuzu and sudachi originated in the same region of Japan and are now commercially grown in sunny regions around the world.
BLOOD ORANGE
Have you ever noticed Melissa's offers produce from around the globe? We follow the seasons worldwide, and Cara Cara Blood Oranges are one of those specialties. Named for Hacienda Cara Cara in Venezuela, where the variety was first discovered and is now grown in Australia, Cara Cara Blood Oranges are low in acid with full, sweet flavor, beautiful pink blush flesh, and juice with subtle notes of raspberry. Use them in fresh salads and slaws, pan sauces for poultry and game meat, or juice them for refreshing sorbets and martinis. Don't discard the peel, as it is loaded with aromatic essential oils that enhance baked goods, icings, beverages, and even homemade skin scrubs. Available now through October. Product of Australia. Also available USDA Certified Organic.
NEW CROP! ORGANIC LEMONS
Lemons are the little black dress of the citrus world. They brighten nearly every dish, beverage, or dessert with their vibrant acidity and fragrant essential oils, while their sunny yellow color simply brings happiness into the kitchen. Beyond cooking, lemons are also a wonderful natural household cleaner. Simply soak the peels overnight in distilled vinegar to create a grease-cutting, bacteria-fighting cleaner for most household surfaces (avoid natural stone and unsealed materials). Melissa's Organic Lemons are USDA Certified Organic. Season begins now and continues through June. Conventional California-grown lemons are also available.
NEW CROP! ORGANIC GRAPEFRUIT
Gone are the days of overly tart grapefruit. Today's varieties are sweeter, juicier, and nearly seedless thanks to years of careful hybridization. Grapefruit pairs beautifully with seafood, poultry, tofu, dairy, avocado, grains, greens, and spices. Save the peel to garnish mocktails, candy for baked goods, or steep into a comforting cup of ginger tea. Melissa's Organic Grapefruits are available in seedless red and pink varieties. Select fruit that is firm and heavy for its size with no soft spots or damage. Store at room temperature for up to two weeks or freeze the juice for later use. Available mid-September through July. California Grown.
NEW SEASON! STARFRUIT
Carambola, also known as starfruit, is as beautiful as it is delicious. Named for its distinctive star shape when sliced, this tropical fruit offers a crisp texture with citrus notes and hints of apple, grape, and plum. Washed and sliced, starfruit creates a stunning presentation on grazing boards, fruit platters, and salads. It is equally delicious in stir-fries, curries, candied for desserts, or as a garnish for cocktails. Store unwashed at room temperature until fully yellow, then refrigerate for up to one week. Wash just before serving. Available now through February. Product of Taiwan.
KEITT MANGO
Don't miss this luscious seasonal favorite! Originating in South Asia, where mangoes have been cultivated for centuries, Keitt Mangos feature smooth, creamy flesh surrounding an elongated pit. Their sweet, rich flavor and peach-like texture make them a wonderful substitute while peaches are still in season. Blend into no-sugar-added breakfast smoothies, prepare mango-watermelon salsa, season mango "fries" or grilled mango steaks with Melissa's Chile Lime or Avocado Toast Seasoning, or top Melissa's Pressed Tofu with fresh avocado-mango salsa. Available through October. California Grown. Available in both conventional and USDA Certified Organic.
CHARENTAIS MELON
Luscious in flavor and delightfully toothsome in texture, Charentais is the perfect personal-sized melon when larger melon varieties begin winding down. Originally grown in France and now produced in the USA and Dominican Republic, this fragrant melon offers floral aromas, a rich bite, and sweet flavor that's never cloying. Enjoy it with salted meats and semi-firm cheeses for a light lunch, or dress it up with Greek yogurt, Coconut Clean Snax®, or even a splash of champagne served in the seeded cavity for dessert. Select firm melons with slight give at the blossom end and avoid any signs of softness or mold. Ripen unwashed at room temperature for up to three days, then refrigerate for another three. Wash thoroughly before cutting. Available now through October. Product of the USA or Dominican Republic.
CALIFORNIA GRAPES
Grapes continue to be a favorite for children and adults alike thanks to their incredible flavor and convenience. Simply rinse, pluck, and enjoy! They pair beautifully with sweet, savory, spicy, creamy, and tangy ingredients. Enjoy grapes fresh, roast them to deepen their sweetness, purée them into slushies, sorbets, vinaigrettes, or granitas, pickle them for sweet-and-sour flavor, dehydrate them for longer storage, or ferment them into wine. Select plump grapes free of bruising or mold with fresh green stems that are not withered.
LAST CHANCE! CHAMPAGNE GRAPES – Champagne Grapes always have a brief season but deliver exceptional sweetness. Their tiny, pea-sized berries are ideal for recipes because they require no slicing, and once dried, they become the dried currants used in baking. Fresh Champagne Grapes add the perfect touch of sweetness to quesadillas, salsas, and dishes featuring roasted Hatch Peppers. Dried, they're wonderful in baked goods, trail mixes, salads, and pasta dishes.
NEW SEASON! K-GRAPES – Big, round, sweet, crisp, and beautifully glossy, K-Grapes, also known as Shine Grapes, are premium seedless grapes with delicate floral notes and flawless appearance. They make an elegant gift or a luxurious snack. Watch for their cousin, Royal Vine Grapes, arriving in October. Available now through April. Product of Korea.
MOON DROP® GRAPES – These unique grapes look like they're from outer space, with deep purple cylindrical berries and a distinctive dimpled tip. One of the sweetest non-GMO grape varieties available, Moon Drop® Grapes are delicious for snacking or as a standout addition to dessert grazing boards alongside seasoned cream cheese for dipping.
ORGANIC JELLY DROPS® GRAPES – A Certified Organic hybrid of Thompson Seedless and Concord grapes, Jelly Drops® capture the nostalgic flavor of grape jelly. They're delicious in pan sauces for game meats, puréed into slushies and snow cones, baked into olive oil grape cakes, or simply washed and enjoyed fresh as one of nature's sweetest snacks.
MUSCATOS™ GRAPES – Melissa's signature California-grown seedless Muscatos™ are available in green, red, and black varieties. Naturally sweet, low in sodium, and fat- and cholesterol-free, each offers its own unique flavor profile. Red grapes provide a hint of tang, green grapes are exceptionally crisp, and black grapes deliver rich, classic grape flavor. Roast them to intensify their sweetness for savory dishes, purée them into granitas or ice cream, or enjoy them fresh on grazing boards, fruit compotes, salads, or paired with grains. Available through October. California Grown.
APPLES FOR THE TEACHER
School is back in session, and so is fresh apple season! New-crop apples begin arriving this month, with additional varieties becoming available throughout the fall, depending on harvest and demand. Small mixed-variety apples, perfect for lunchboxes and quick snacks, are now available in convenient paper bags and totes, along with larger premium varieties, all grown in the USA. A member of the rose family, apples really can help keep the doctor away. They are a source of soluble and insoluble fiber to support digestion and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, while also providing natural carbohydrates for energy, Vitamin C for immunity, and being naturally fat-free. Apples are one of the most versatile fruits available, pairing beautifully with cheeses, nuts, vegetables, meats, grains, and spices to create flavorful snacks, side dishes, entrées, and desserts. Select apples that are firm with smooth, shiny skin free of cuts or bruises. Store unwashed at room temperature away from onions and garlic or refrigerate in a loose plastic bag. Wash well before eating or preparing. Fresh apples may be frozen after cooking or puréeing, as freezing raw apples causes them to lose both texture and juice.
PINK LADY® APPLES – With their beautiful pink-red blush, golden background color, and distinctive freckles, Pink Lady® Apples are among the most versatile apples available. Their crisp texture and balanced sweet-tart flavor make them equally delicious for fresh snacking, salads, baking, sauces, and roasting. Originally developed in Western Australia, Pink Lady® Apples are now proudly grown in Washington.
HONEYCRISP APPLES – Recognized as Minnesota's State Fruit and consistently ranked among America's favorite apples, Honeycrisp first appeared in 1997. Although its exact parentage remains a mystery, its popularity certainly does not. Large, exceptionally crisp, juicy, and sweet with just a touch of tang, Honeycrisp Apples are perfect for fresh eating, salads, cheese boards, baking, and caramel apples.
MODI® APPLES – Art lovers may recognize the inspiration behind the name. Modi® Apples honor the Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, celebrated for his bold use of color. Originally developed in Italy's Po Valley and now grown in Washington, Modi® Apples feature brilliant red skin, a crisp texture, and refreshing flavor that make them an excellent choice for snacking. They're also available in smaller sizes packed in Melissa's fashionable red tote.
APPLE LOVER'S HAMPER – Looking for a thoughtful, healthy gift? Melissa's Apple Lover's Hamper is hand-packed to order in a reusable hamper with a removable lid and filled with approximately 4½ pounds of premium seasonal apples. Naturally low in acid and rich in dietary fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, and natural sweetness, apples are enjoyed by nearly everyone. Serve them raw, peeled or unpeeled, juiced, roasted, baked, poached, cooked into sauces or purées, or paired with both fruits and vegetables in countless recipes. Few fruits are as versatile, nutritious, and universally loved as the humble apple.
