Pepino Melons Delivery or Pickup

Pepino melons are the fruit of the Pepino Dulce plant, which is native to the low-lying forests of the Andean mountains in Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. In the U.S., the plant is grown in California. Pepino melons are sometimes called tree melons, but the Pepino Dulce plant is actually a small shrub that looks more like a ground cover than a tree. Despite their name, Pepino melons are also not actually melons but rather related to other cultivated nightshade species, such as tomatoes and eggplant.

The history of Pepino melons isn't clear. The plant isn't known in the wild, and since the fruit is pulpy and not easy to preserve, and its small seeds are easily blown away, it is not clear when Pepino peppers were first cultivated. However, early Spanish settlers reported that these fruits were cultivated on the coast and in the Moche Valley in Peru.

There are multiple cultivars of Pepino melons, such as the Ecuadorian Gold, El Camino, New Yorker, Colossal, and Rio Bamba. This means that you will find various shapes of fruit, including round, oval, or teardrop-shaped. Their smooth and thin skin is yellowish in color, and as the fruit ripens, irregular purple markings start to appear. 

There is no central pit, only a cluster of seeds that are surrounded by orange flesh. The texture of the flesh is soft and watery and has a mildly sweet flavor that's a mixture of cucumber, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon. In Japan, the Pepino melon is much enjoyed for its delicate, mild, and understated flavor.

Pepino melons are winter fruits that start to appear in September and October. These fruits are typically harvested before they're completely ripe, meaning that the Pepino melons you'll see in the shop will probably have a lightish skin, which may range from light-green to pale-white, depending on the variety. 

As the fruit ripens, its color becomes richer and darker and often turns into a deep yellow or gold. Once the fruit is ripe, it also gives off a sweetish smell, sort of like a cantaloupe. If the fruit is deep yellow in color, you may want to squeeze it lightly to feel how much it gives. If the fruit feels quite soft, give it a pass. You will do better opting for a Pepino melon that's still a bit green and firm to the touch and allowing it to ripen at home.

If you bring slightly green Pepino melons home, you can leave them in the vegetable rack outside at room temperature to ripen, but be sure to keep them out of the sun. Once they're ripe, they'll give off a fragrant smell. By placing them in the fridge, they'll remain fresh for another three days.

If you want to try Pepino melons for the first time or are thinking of all the delicious ways in which you can use them in your cooking, simply visit the Instacart website and shop for them online. One of our efficient and friendly Instacart shoppers will hand-select fresh Pepino melons for you and can deliver them to your door within 2 hours! This way, you get to spend more time at home doing the things you love.