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French Breakfast is a similar melon to the Charentais. It is a
light green to yellow fleshed melon with a lightly sweet flavor, and fragrant
flesh, and dark green skin. It is popular both as a dessert
and breakfast melon. It is available year round and is grown
in Europe and in California. It has a very slightly netted skin and is
moderately ribbed. It is a good keeper if kept in a dry dark
place.
French Breakfast Melons are good sources for vitamin C and some vitamin
A. Melon is low in calories and high in water and fiber.
One pound of melon yields one cup cut or cubed melon pieces.
Melon is versatile, good for salads, dessert presentations,
sorbets, beverages, and side dishes.
French Breakfast Melons should be well-shaped and nearly
globular and uniform in appearance.
There should be no scars or surface defects, and no evidence of
bruising. They should appear heavy for size, the surface lightly
ridged with a light netting look and waxy and not fuzzy.
U.S. grades are No. 1, Commercial and No. 2. Distinction among grades is based predominantly on external appearances. Sizing is based on count per 13.6 kg (30 lb.) container, most typically
7 or 8, and occasionally 10 melons per carton. High quality appearance is protected, in part, by packing with a partition to protect melons from
bruising, compression and scuffing.
To properly store French Breakfast: 45- 50 degrees F Storage life is typically 12-15 days at
45 degrees F with up to 21 days attainable.
Source authorities vary in the reported optimum storage and shipping temperatures for
French Breakfast melons. Most recommendations use
45 degree F and 85-90% R.H. as the optimum handling conditions. In general, if melons are ripe or pretreated with ethylene at 100 ppm for 24 hr, trade recommendations for short-term storage and shipping are often range from
36.5 - 41 degrees F. Extended holding at these temperatures will induce chilling injury, rapidly evident after transfer to typical retail display
temperature
Here are some good links for French Breakfast melon information:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/PLANTanswers/vegetables/melons.html
http://www.marketreport.com/melons.htm
http://www.orst.edu/Dept/NWREC/melon.html
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