Crane Melon

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Crane Melon
Crane Melon
Genus	Cucumis[1]
Species	melo[1]
Breeder	Oliver Crane

The Crane Melon is an heirloom melon developed by Oliver Crane in the early 20th century.^[2] A melon is an edible gourd with sweet and fruity flesh.

Characteristics[]

The Crane Melon is a variety that was developed in the early 1900s in Santa Rosa, California. It is grown and sold at the Crane Melon Barn in Santa Rosa. A ripe melon can grow to be about 4-7 pounds and has orange flesh. The melon is described as "exceptionally sweet and juicy".

Recognition[]

The Crane Melon has appeared in magazines, newspapers and TV shows. It is on the Ark of Taste: Slow Food USA. It was recognized as a true heirloom by a Los Angeles Times article, "The original heirloom concept applies most readily to vegetables and the few fruits, chiefly melons, that are propagated by seed".^[3] Another requirement for heirloom status is how old the history of the vegetable or fruit cultivar is. The article discusses that generally, the accepted cultivation history is between 50–75 years.

History[]

Crane Family[]

Richard Hope Crane moved from Missouri to California during the gold rush in 1849. In 1852 he settled down in the Santa Rosa region of Sonoma County. The Crane Melon Barn was built in 1868 at 4935 Petaluma Hill Road.^[2]

Crane Melon[]

In 1920 Oliver Crane, Richard Crane's son, developed the heirloom Crane Melon. He crossed several varieties of melons including a , a Persian melon, an , and a . The Crane Melon cannot be found in grocery stores. It is farmed at the Crane Melon Barn where it is vine-ripened, and therefore does not have the shelf life required to be suitable for shipping.^[4] “The Crane melon’s flavor is due to its terroir. The melon was developed to be grown...in a particular soil, within a specific climate zone, farmed in a certain style.”

References[]