GO BEYOND FOUR SEASONS

EARLY

Sun Sweet Melons
Grown by Oscar in Mantua, IT

Oscar’s Sun Sweet Melons have benefited from months of slow growth over the cooler months. The result is a fruit unlike anything we taste all year — dense, firm flesh gives way to undiluted juices packed full of sugars. The early season melons are grown in tunnels, as the blistering summer heat needed to develop sugars in the melons hasn’t hit Mantua just yet. As the season progresses, the melon’s complexity and flavor will continue to evolve, becoming more dense with sugars at the peak of the season.

The rough-skinned Sun Sweet and smooth Honeymoon Melons, that will come later in the season, are a testament to the growing practices of three generations of the Zerbinati family. The Zerbinati family has remained committed to time-honored practices, even as their neighbors moved over to intensive production methods that prioritize yield.

Set in Sermide, Mantua, the soils on Oscar’s plot on the River Po are rich in minerals and ideal for growing melons. Clay soils naturally retain water, and the melons are great absorbers, which can dilute the taste. Oscar skillfully limits water uptake: he covers them with sheeting to protect them from rainwater, and elevates the beds, so any excess water drains away.

LATE

Green Garlic
Grown by Simon in Chester, New York

We’re in the final weeks for Green Garlic. Small, tender bulbs are starting to form on the ends of the stalks, signaling the season is nearly done. As the plant shifts more energy toward forming bulbs, the once mild stalks become woody and tough. In this late-season stage, the pale green garlic still holds on to some of the sweetness, but is taking on a spicier, more pronounced flavor.

These young garlic heads were planted in the fall before the first frost. After a long, cold winter, Simon’s shoots popped up later than usual as late-season frosts and freezing temperatures delayed their growth. Now, as the plants become more mature and the bulbs grow larger, we’ll turn to Garlic Scapes — the flowering stalks of the mature hard-necked garlic. Garlic Scapes indicate that the garlic bulbs are ready to be harvested and lend a grassy sweetness, underpinned by a mild heat.