After cantaloupes and watermelons, probably the most familiar melons to Americans are honeydews, which are available year-round.

The rind is very smooth, greenish white to yellow in color and the flesh is a cool lime green. An unripe honeydew is terrible, but a ripe one is probably the sweetest of all the melons.

Honeydew is a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium and zinc and excellent in digestive enzymes.

The way to select a perfect honeydew is to choose one that smells like a flower, is the color of butter, has a slight give at the blossom end, and feels like a baby's bottom.

North Carolina Honeydew Melons Growers/Shipper List

Cooling/Storage Requirements of North Carolina Honeydew Melons