Melons in the Produce Spotlight at Farmers Markets

Melons are being featured at the Down to Earth Farmers Markets in New Rochelle and Larchmont.

Amy Gardiner, host at the Huguenot Park market on North Avenue, was giving out samples of ripe cantaloup and watermelon Friday.

"It's really the end of the melon season," she said, "but you can dehydrate melons" to get that special taste until they are in season again.

Gardiner said to thickly slice the melons and put them on a baking sheet. She said to set the oven as low as possible and bake them until there are no more soft spots.

"They should feel like fruit leather," Gardiner said.

Let them cool and put them in Mason jars.

She said they weren't great reconstituted, but are a good flavorful snack.

The New Rochelle Down to Earth Farmers Market is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays in the park next to the high school on North Avenue.

Larchmont's Down to Earth Farmers Market is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Metro-North train station.