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Among the contents of the edible bouquet, edible fruit charts a compelling story. Are cantaloupes imposters? To what family does the rounded scaly fruit belong? Does the cantaloupe provide any nutritional sustenance? Read these amazing fact on the cantaloupe…
> Before the cantaloupe is cut, carved and shaped for the fresh edible bouquet, its oval shape measures between five and seven inches.
> A relative of the gourd family, cantaloupe also goes by kharbooja, in India. In New Zealand and Australia, cantaloupe go by the moniker “rock cantaloupe.” Cantaloupe also goes by the alias muskmelon, mush-melon, cantaloup, rock melon, sweet melon, and Persian melon.
> Among the gourd’s long list of family members, including cucumber, squash, casaba, pumpkin and crenshaw, cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon are the only fruit used in a fresh carved fruit basket.
>Cantaloupe range in size from 1 to 10 pounds.
> One medium-sized cantaloupe contains 4 grams of fiber. The soluble fiber found in cantaloupe can help to lower cholesterol and is heart healthy. The fiber in the outer layer helps eliminate harmful toxins from the body with its antioxidants.
> Sources at the University of California state that the cantaloupe came to America in the 16th century, when it was imported from Africa.
> As seen in edible fruit bouquets and in U.S. grocery stores, the cantaloupe is not a “true” cantaloupe. Sources at University of California (Davis), state that true cantaloupes have a rind that is rough, scaly and hard, they do not have netting and they have orange or green flesh.
>Here at FruitBouquet.org we know that cantaloupes make a great addition to any edible bouquet of fruit. Because of its extensive harvest season from May though November, the light coral fruit works well in fresh fruit basket arrangements.
> In the nutrition department, cantaloupe abound in vitamins A and C as well as beta carotenes. These help to keep your eyesight healthy, maintain skin health and slow the signs of aging, as well as help to boost your immune system.
> One cup of cut cantaloupe equals about 60 calories.
> In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) reported that a salmonella outbreak was linked to cantaloupe, affecting some 257 Americans.
> California accounts for 60 percent of the cantaloupe production in the United States. Cantaloupe imported to the US typically come from Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala.
Looking for some great recipes to try using cantaloupe?
Try one of these:
Cantaloupe Apple Spinach Energy Juice
White Gazpacho with Cantaloupe
Pear-Cantaloupe Green Smooth Recipe with Strawberry and Escarole
3 Ingredient High Protein Cantaloupe Smoothie
Do you have a favorite cantaloupe recipe? If so, please share it with us.