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Produce Briefs...
Ramps
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Description/Taste
The Bitter melon is long and slender, similar to the shape of a standard cucumber with a rough, warty edible skin. The Bitter melon has an off-white, translucent, crisp, and bitter flesh and bears flat white bitter seeds. The fruit is harvested, young, when still green. As the fruit matures, the skin turns bright orange and the flesh increases in bitterness. Ripe fruits are saved for their seeds and replanted. The Bitter melon is considered the most bitter of all fruits. Its bitterness can be tempered by soaking the fruit or cooking it.
Seasons/Availability
Bitter melons are available year-round.
Current Facts
The Bitter melon is botanically classified as Momordica Charantia and a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. Bitter melon is also known as Winter melon, Bitter gourd, Karela, moqua, sinqua, opo, or balsam-pear. The Bitter melon plant is an herbaceous tendril bearing vine that is harvested for its leaves, seeds and fruit. The bitter compounds that the plant contains developed act as a natural pest deterrent.
Nutritional Value
Bitter melon advocates boast its amalgam of health benefits. It is rich in iron, contains twice the beta-carotene of broccoli, twice the calcium of spinach and twice the potassium of banana.
Applications
Bitter melon can be stir-fried, stewed, curried, steamed, braised or pickled. Dice Bitter melon and stir fry with shrimp, then serve with a fermented black bean sauce. Thinly slice Bitter melon into rounds, removing the seeds, then deep fry in peanut oil and serve over curd rice. Slice Bitter melon into half-moons, then boil until tender and serve as a side. This melon keeps up to one week. Before using Bitter melon, wash well, but do not peel.
Geography/History
The Bitter melon is native to India. It thrives in tropical and subtropical regions throughout Asia, Africa and the Americas. There are newer hybrids of the Bitter melon that have been developed to be more palatable, hence less bitter, than their original cultivar.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Bitter Melon. One
is
easiest, three is harder.Recently Shared
People have shared Bitter Melon using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
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Virginia Park Farmer's Market
Fresno Evergreen
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 40 days ago, 8/10/19 
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99 Ranch
Near Albany, California, United StatesAbout 47 days ago, 8/03/19 Sharer's comments : Huge 
Island Pacific Supermarket
Island Pacific Supermarket - Vallejo, CA
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Mekong
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Near Santa Rosa, California, United States206 Sebastopol Road Santa Rosa CA 95407 707-544-6201 About 58 days ago, 7/23/19 
Pasar Kramat jati
Near Cibubur, Jakarta, IndonesiaAbout 62 days ago, 7/20/19 Sharer's comments : Bitter melon in Jakarta market 
Sunset super
Sunset Super
Near San Francisco, California, United States2425 Irving Street San Francisco CA 94122 415-682-3738 About 68 days ago, 7/13/19 
Yin Xing
Yin Xing Food Company
Near San Francisco, California, United States661 Clement Street San Francisco CA 94118 415-597-6235 About 68 days ago, 7/13/19 
Richmond New May Wah Supermarket 新美華超級市場
Richmond New May Wah Supermarket
Near San Francisco, California, United States707 Clement Street San Francisco CA 94118 415-221-9826 About 68 days ago, 7/13/19 
Hiep-Thanh Market
Hiep-Thanh Market
Near San Francisco, California, United States724 Larkin Street San Francisco CA 94109 415-474-1377 About 69 days ago, 7/12/19 
Specialty Produce
Specialty
Near San Diego, California, United States619-295-3172 About 82 days ago, 6/29/19 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon Season! 
Big Square
Big Square
Near Glendale, California, United States831 N Pacific Ave Glendale CA 91203 818-230-2188 About 83 days ago, 6/28/19 
American Ranch & Seafood Market
American Ranch & Seafood Market
Near Artesia, California, United States19105 Pioneer Blvd Artesia CA 90701 562-924-7000 About 89 days ago, 6/22/19 
Super King Market
Super King Markets - Magnolia
Near Stanton, California, United States10500 Magnolia Ave. Anaheim CA 92804 714-527-5809 About 89 days ago, 6/22/19 
Tokyo Central
Tokyo Central
Near South Coast Metro, California, United States2975 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa CA 92626 714-751-8433 About 90 days ago, 6/21/19 
Seiwa Market
Seiwa Market
Near South Coast Metro, California, United States3151 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa CA 92626 714-852-6980 About 90 days ago, 6/21/19 
Crown Valley Marketplace (Persian Market)
Crown Valley Market
Near Ladera Ranch, California, United States2771 Center Dr. Mission Viejo CA 92692 949-340-1010 About 91 days ago, 6/21/19 
Sanwa Farmer's Market
Sanwa Farmers Market
Near Tampa, United States2621 E. Hillsborough Ave. Tampa FL 33610 813-234-8428 About 97 days ago, 6/14/19 
Carnival Supermarket
Carnival Supermarket
Near National City, California, United States1750 E 8th Street, National City, Ca, 91950 619-474-5444 www.carnivalmarket.com About 195 days ago, 3/08/19 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Carnival Supermarket. 
Seafood City
Near Poway, California, United StatesAbout 202 days ago, 3/01/19 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Seafood City. 
H Mart
Near Poway, California, United StatesAbout 205 days ago, 2/26/19 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at H Mart. Leks produce Market at the Oldsmar Florida Flea Ma Near Safety Harbor, Florida, United States About 228 days ago, 2/04/19 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Leks produce Market at the Oldsmar Florida Flea Market. 
Vista Farmers Market
Vista Farmers Market
Near Vista, California, United StatesVista, Ca 325 S Melrose Dr, Vista 92081-6627 1-760-945-7425 About 334 days ago, 10/20/18 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Vista Farmers Market. 
Virginia Park Farmer's Market
Fresno Evergreen
Near Santa Monica, California, United States559-930-0815 About 348 days ago, 10/06/18 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Virginia Park Farmer's Market. Uwajimaya Near Bellevue, Washington, United States About 372 days ago, 9/12/18 
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesAbout 383 days ago, 9/01/18 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Specialty Produce. Thursday farm market at Manhattan plaza. Near Union City, New Jersey, United States About 427 days ago, 7/19/18 
Santa Monica Farmers Market
Chao - Fresno Evergreen
Near Santa Monica, California, United States559-385-4959 About 464 days ago, 6/13/18 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Santa Monica Farmers Market. Fresno Evergreen reen 
Virginia Park Farmer's Market
Fresno Evergreen
Near Santa Monica, California, United States559-930-0815 About 467 days ago, 6/09/18 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Virginia Park Farmer's Market. Asian Food Center Near Shoreline, Washington, United States About 507 days ago, 4/30/18 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Asian Food Center. 
Vista Farmers Market
Near Vista, California, United StatesAbout 719 days ago, 9/30/17 Sharer's comments : Bitter Melon spotted at Vista Farmers Market. |
