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Melons


Overview

Melons belong to the cucurbit family, which also includes cucumbers. Cucurbits are thought to have originated in southern Mexico and Central America. Today’s predominant melon varieties include watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. For more information about  watermelon, please see the Watermelon profile.

Historically, cantaloupe production accounts for the greatest share of production value. In 2009 the value of U.S. cantaloupe production increased to $359.1 million. However, the value of U.S. honeydew production declined that year, falling to $59.1 million.  (NASS 2010)  June 2010 ... Melons


Other Links

  • Cantaloupe (production, costs, IPM, postharvest), University of California, Davis.
  • Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons, Vegetables, National Ag Statistics Service (NASS), USDA - This report, issued five times a year, provides data on melons, including area harvested, prospective area, yield and production for major states.
  • Cantaloupe Production in California, Vegetable Research and Information Center, University of California Cooperative Extension, 2008.
  • Enzor Farms, Fair Bluff, North Carolina - This sixth-generation family farm has raised melons and sweet potatoes since 1850. The farm offers cantaloupes as well as watermelons for sale.
  • Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), Foreign Ag Service (FAS)online, USDA.
  • Larriland Farm, Woodbine, Maryland - This pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farm is owned by Larry and Polly Moore. The  farm has 15-plus acres of vegetables, including cantaloupes. It also has a 14-acre strawberry patch, peach, apple and cherry trees and several types of berries.
  • Melon Profiles, The New American Farmer, Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education (SARE), USDA - Provides profiles of melon producers in New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Washington.
  • PlantFacts, Ohio State University - This Web site provides a full-text search engine of all extension and academic department information from all land-grant universities in the United States. Additionally, there are significant image and video databases, an FAQ database and a glossary. 
  • Production Expenses of Specialized Vegetable and Melon Farms, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2008.
  • U.S. per capita food availability, ERS, USDA, 2008 - This dataset facilitates the creation of custom reports about fruits and vegetables.
  • Vegetables Annual Summary, NASS, USDA.
  • Vegetables and Melons, ERS, USDA.
  • Vegetables and Melons Outlook: Tables, ERS, USDA.
  • Vegetables and Melons Yearbook, ERS, USDA.
  • Weed Control in Cucurbit Crops (muskmelon, cucumber, squash and watermelon), University of Florida, revised 2007 - This research-based University of Florida document contains management practices for the control of weeds.


Links checked June 2010.

 

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