August 2005 The Shoreline Page 11
“Sprite” ....the Newest
North Carolina Melon!
Submitted by Ivy Reid, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with
Craven County Cooperative Extension
Turtle Time
By Peggy Sagmiller
Summer time is melon time and what better
way to celebrate summer than to try North
Carolina’s newest melon variety! The Sprite
melon is well adapted to North Carolina
growing conditions and can be successfully
produced from the middle of June through
September in eastern North Carolina. This
unique melon has a fruity flavor that resembles
a cross between a honeydew and pear.
Produced in North Carolina under the
“Carolina Specialties” label, the Sprite is
carefully harvested, cooled, and shipped under
constant quality control. Sprite Melons are
available in North Carolina from late June to
mid September. This insures the customer will
receive an exceptional melon at the peak of
flavor. Check at your local Farmers Market
or grocery store to take advantage of these
fresh new melons.
Marketing surveys have shown the Sprite to
be preferred by consumers when compared
to other specialty melons. The unique flavor,
attractive appearance, and high nutritional
value, results in strong demand from
consumers who have sampled a Sprite.
The Sprite melon also has a distinct
appearance in which the rind turns from cream
to white with yellow mottling when ripe. The
flesh is white and crisp, much like an apple.
The fruit will average from 1 to 1.5 pounds,
making it a convenient snack size for the
consumer. The melon surface will produce
a few brown concentric ‘sugar cracks’ at the
calyx (blossom end) when the fruit has a high
sugar content. Sugar content in Sprite melons
can reach over 18 percent, which is 25 to 30
percent higher than most other melons. One
serving provides 150 percent of the daily value
of vitamin C and has 0 calories from fat.
Although Sprite melons taste wonderful
alone, it is always interesting to try a new
recipe such as the one listed below:
Sprite Melon
Raspberry Smoothie
The Sprite melon is paired with fresh
raspberries in this refreshing thirst-quenching
smoothie.
1 Sprite melon
12 ounces raspberry yogurt
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup fresh raspberries
2/3 cup crushed ice
Remove rind and seeds from melon; dice
to yield 2 cups. Place yogurt, orange juice,
raspberries, crushed ice and diced melons into
blender. Puree 15-20 seconds until smooth.
Pour into chilled glasses, garnish with lime
slices and serve immediately.
It is now mid-July, halfway through the sea
turtle nesting season. There are already 11
confirmed nests on our beach. This is more
than we have had in any year on record in
Pine Knoll Shores. Our second best season,
2003, yielded nine confirmed and two possible
nests. The two possible nests turned out not
to be nests after all. In addition, we have
only had one false crawl this year - in 2003,
we had 25.
Mid-July also marks the beginning of the
hatching season. Please remember to keep
all bright lights that are visible from the
beach OFF. Close the drapes on ocean-facing
windows at dusk, or move lamps away from
the windows. Use flashlights with a red lens,
or wrap clear lenses with red plastic wrap when
walking on the beach after dark.
Bright white light will lure hatchlings up
the dunes toward homes and away from the
ocean. It will also lure them up the beach.
Either way means death by exhaustion or by
predation. In addition, white flashlights can
blind hatchlings.
Please remember to take all toys and trash
with you when you leave the beach. Toys and
trash will impede the progress of hatchlings on
their way to the surf. Trash on beaches will
eventually end up in the ocean, where it will
be mistaken for food. Adult sea turtles will
eat this trash and eventually die of starvation,
with stomachs full of plastic.
Last but not least, please keep your dogs
leashed when on the beach, and clean up after
them. Loose dogs are one of the two chief
predators of sea turtle hatchlings on our beach.
Dog droppings leach down into the sand and
will contaminate and kill existing and future
sea turtle nests.
Thank you for your help in making the 2005
sea turtle season the best ever!!
Women’s Club Prepares
for Coming Year
The Board of Directors of the PKS Women’s Club will meet on Friday, Aug. 19 at 9:00
a.m. at the home of their new President, Kay Howe. The next regularly scheduled meeting
of the Board of Directors will be Friday, Sept. 16, 9:00 a.m. at Town Hall. Any member of
the PKS Women’s Club is welcome to attend any Board Meeting.
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