Legend Produce: Cantaloupe, Origami Melons and More!
Legend Produce Company has the distinction of being North America’s largest cantaloupe supplier, which makes owner Barry Zwillinger an expert on all things cantaloupe. We met with Barry to learn more about his farming operation and what makes California cantaloupes, well… legendary.
The making of a Legend
Barry Zwillinger is a fifth-generation cantaloupe grower. His family settled in Cantua Creek during prohibition and has grown cantaloupes on California’s Westside ever since. In 1999, Barry partnered with Pat Tucker to launch Legend Produce. While the farming company grows an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, Legend Produce specializes in cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelons. With fields stretching from Imperial Valley north through Yolo County, Legend Produce is the nation’s largest cantaloupe supplier, harvesting around 50 million melons each year!
When are melons in season in California?
Legend Produce harvests California Grown melons from May through the end of October. The season begins in Brawley, California where the Imperial Valley’s desert climate coaxes the melons to ripen earlier than the rest of the state.
As the summer sunshine brings toastier temperatures to other regions of the state, harvest moves north to the San Joaquin Valley; through Cantua Creek, Huron, Los Banos and Patterson; before culminating in Yolo County in late October.
California: a great place to grow cantaloupes and other melons
California farmers are proud to grow over 400 specialty crops, and more than half of the nation’s fresh produce. Our growers lead the nation in cantaloupe production and supply virtually all the nation’s honeydew melons.
Farmers often credit California’s agricultural abundance to its diverse landscapes, fertile soils and temperate climate. Barry echoes this claim, noting, “California is one of the greatest agricultural states in the world because of our soil and weather conditions. There are areas with well over 300 feet of topsoil, which is phenomenal for growing all kinds of crops – from melons to grapes to tomatoes. It is the mecca of agriculture in the United States.”
Origami Cantaloupes: A fan favorite
Legend Produce is California’s leading cantaloupe grower, and the Origami Cantaloupe is their most requested melon! Legend Produce is proud to be California’s exclusive source of Origami melons – a variety of cantaloupe valued for its intense aroma and musky melon flavor. Barry notes that Origami melons are more challenging to grow than their traditional cantaloupe counterparts. While most cantaloupe fields are harvested only once or twice, an origami field requires 8-10 passes from harvest crews – with each Origami Cantaloupe only being harvested once it’s fully ripened and slips off the vine.
Origami Cantaloupes are in season from May through August, and are available at well-stocked grocers. Can’t find an Origami melon at your favorite grocery store? Barry suggests that shoppers chat with the produce manager and request that they stock Origami Cantaloupes in store!
Support California farmers. Choose California cantaloupes
Agriculture is intricately ingrained in California’s past and present – from the Mission System to the Second Gold Rush to the Golden State’s modern-day agricultural dominance. Barry encourages shoppers to support California’s family farms and to choose locally grown produce. He asserts, “It’s important to support California agriculture and to keep that tradition alive because without California agriculture, the United States would struggle to have produce in stores or on its tables.”
Barry pauses, and then concludes, “Agriculture is the backbone of the state – it always has been.
All about Cantaloupes
Want to learn more about how cantaloupes are grown in California? Here’s everything you need to know!
The Best Melon Recipes
Barry’s favorite way to eat a cantaloupe is fresh off the vine – but we’ve got plenty of creative ways to enjoy California Grown melons!
Article by Hilary Rance. Photography by Hilary Rance and James Collier.