Melons have been refreshing people for thousands of years—long before they ever showed up in modern produce departments. Believed to have originated in Africa and developed in Southwest Asia, early melons were far less sweet than the juicy varieties we enjoy today. Over time, through cultivation and selection, they have been bred into the fragrant, sugar-rich fruits now enjoyed around the world.

Today, melons are a summer staple, with each variety offering something a little different. Cantaloupes are known for their musky aroma and orange flesh, honeydews for their smooth, pale green sweetness, and watermelons for their crisp texture and high water content—especially appealing as temperatures rise. Galia melons, a lesser-known option, combines the fragrance of cantaloupe with a lighter, more tropical sweetness that fits nicely into early summer.

The category continues to expand beyond the basics, with specialty melons like Charentais, Piel del Sapo, and Canary bringing more variety in flavor, texture, and appearance. Look for these and other specialty varieties coming on later this season.

As warmer weather sets in, melons naturally become more prominent in the department. Keeping a mix of core varieties alongside a few specialty options can help round out the selection and keep displays feeling fresh. With Memorial Day approaching, melons are an easy addition to holiday displays, offering a refreshing, crowd-friendly option for gatherings and warm-weather meals.

Fun Fact: Botanically speaking, melons are actually berries—specifically “pepos,” a type of berry with a hard rind.

New & Exciting!

California Green Bell Pepper: Hooray! The California season is starting up. Red bells need more heat to color up and will come on later.

Melon

• Galia Melon: Galias have sweet aroma and refreshing juicy flavor. The taste is often described as a blend of cantaloupe and honeydew.
• Honeydew: Early-season honeydews are starting to arrive with steady quality and a clean, mild sweetness—an easy addition to melon sets.
• Honeysaurus: Specialty honeydew-type melon known for its naturally sweet, honey-like flavor that is anything but prehistoric. Crisp, refreshing and worth digging into!

New Crop Purple Garlic: Known for its vibrant purple-striped skin, bold aroma, and slightly sharper, more complex flavor. A lovely addition to fresh garlic displays for a pop of color.

Rainier Cherry: Available while supplies last! Well-known for their golden skin, red blush, and signature ultra-sweet flavor, Rainiers are rare in California. (They were bred in the Pacific Northwest and named after the mountain!) We are featuring almost fully red fruit with excellent sugar from Delta Organics in the Sacramento Valley.

Specialty Potato: Specialty potatoes are a simple way to add color, flavor, and variety to the set as shoppers head into the season for grilling and lighter meals. Bonus: thin skin means no peeling and easy prep!

• Bella Roja: Red-skinned, yellow flesh with a waxy texture that works well for roasting and salads.
• French Fingerling: Rosy, red skin with yellow flesh. Sweet, nutty flavor.
• Russian Banana: Buttercream colored flesh; rich ‘chestnutty’ flavor and waxy texture that is good for boiling, steaming and roasting. Bookmark this one for a yummy Memorial Day potato salad!
• Russian Blue: Deep purple flesh and earthy flavor with strong visual appeal.

Sugar Snap Peas: All good things are worth the wait. California snap peas are finally ready and here!

Sunflowers: Just in! Bringing bright, cheerful color and strong shelf life. Perfect for early summer floral displays. Supply is hit or miss, but only until the weather stays warm.

Specialty Fruit:

Looking to add something different to the produce set? These in-season specialty items can help draw attention and give shoppers something new to explore. Signage and samples can help with education and sell-through.

• Black Sapote: Nicknamed the “chocolate pudding fruit,” this one ripens from firm and green to soft and custardy, with a mild cocoa-like flavor. Great for scooping or blending into desserts. Packed in fiber pints and sold by the each for easy handling.
• Boysenberry: A mix of blackberry, raspberry, and loganberry with deep, jammy flavor and a nice sweet-tart balance. Perfect for baking or preserves.
• Cherimoya: Still coming in but the season is winding down.
• Dragonfruit: Yellow skin/white flesh: back from Tierra Organica, a family farm in Ecuador, they offer red skin/white flesh fruit, too.
• Mayhaw Berry: Small, tart berries from the Southeast—think cranberry vibes. Not for snacking, but excellent cooked down into jellies. limited
• Olallieberry: This West Coast favorite is a mix of blackberry and loganberry. Juicy, sweet-tart, and especially good for eating fresh, pies and jam.
• Pakistan Mulberry: Long, dark berries with super sweet, almost honeyed flavor. Delicate so best enjoyed right away.
• Persian Green Plum: Crisp, sour green plums, eaten raw as a snack, with a sprinkle of salt. Popular in Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and Armenia and great for customers looking for something different or culturally nostalgic.

Promotable

Asparagus: California asparagus is in peak spring season with solid supply from Durst Organic Growers. Quality and volume are both strong. A good time to build out spring grilling displays ahead of Memorial Day.

Cantaloupe: California-grown cantaloupes are arriving with good volume. A great time to start building early summer melon displays.

Cherry: From Coral Champagne to Arvin Glenn and Rainiers. We got ‘em! Rainier cherries are ripe for promotion! Our perpetual favorite, Bings, are expected this coming week from Heartwood and Ferrari Farms.

English Hothouse Cucumber: Mexico-grown cukes are back with real volume. Quality is consistent, and the sharp price makes this an easy promo heading into salad season.

Green Bean: From VV exclusive grower Rundle Family Farms, superb quality!

Peach: California white and yellow peaches are really kicking in, with good pricing & volume, particularly on smaller sizes. Fragrant, juicy, and a great three-day holiday item!

Ruby Grapefruit: Ruby grapefruit is still readily available. A solid choice for citrus displays, with great color and balanced flavor. Excellent for juicing too! Ask your Account Manager about volume deals.

Tommy Atkin Mango: Mildly sweet, slightly tangy flavor with a firmer, more fibrous texture than premium varieties. They’re reliable and versatile, with a balanced taste that works well for slicing, dicing, and blending.

Watermelon: California watermelons are ramping up, with good availability across categories. Mini seedless and black seedless are both great options for summer sets. Talk to your Account Manager about bins and plan ahead for Memorial Day and summer!

White Mushroom: Supply is steady and quality looks great right now. A good time to give them some extra visibility—they’re versatile, familiar, and easy for shoppers to add to just about any meal.

Limited

Apricot: just starting but limited due to cooler weather.

Broccoli/Cauliflower: Limited; prices are up.

Brussels Sprouts: Gapping until July.

Cabbage: Red is very limited. Napa and Savoy are gapping.

Celery: Prices remain high; steady California supply not expected until June.

Globe Eggplant: Suddenly limited

Honeycrisp Apple

Papaya: Gapping

Radicchio

Slicer Cucumber

Sugarbee Apple

Tomato: Heirloom, TOVS and cherry tomatoes remain limited. Beef steak tomato continues to be unavailable.

Done for the Season

Broccoli from Rundle Family Farm

Pink Lady Apple

Red Bartlett Pear