Winter Melon
Local Food Product
The winter melon is one of western Sicily’s typical crops and is characterized in two types, one yellow skinned and the other green skinned. Diodoro Siculo mentioned the cultivation as early as the first century BC. It was introduced to the island by the Jews, accompanied by the Romans and later spread by the Arabs. Its name comes from the fact that even though the fruit is harvested in the period between July and September, it can be conserved until the winter. It offers a scented, white, crunchy pulp that lends itself very well to the preparation of diverse exquisite dishes. The winter melon offers numerous health benefits: it is cleansing, contains potassium and is rich in beta-carotene.
Territory
