THERE IS an incomparable surge of sweetness when you bite into the juicy orange flesh of a really good cantaloupe. The bright scent awakens in the memory a glorious paradise of flavor.
It’s an experience that has been sought out by presidents, celebrities and locals lucky enough to be in-the-know. Hand Melon Farm in Greenwich grows melons so good they’ve made people cry.
“We’re the only place on the planet where you can get this type of melon. You won’t find a sweeter melon than a Hand melon,” said Terry Oosterom.
A self-described “foodie” who loves variety, Oosterom stocks the Hand Melon farm market with unique fruits, vegetables and flowers grown just down the road on her partner, John Hand’s family farm.
“The melon crop is fairly outstanding this year. It was hot and dry early in the season which is what melons need to grow well,” said Hand.
110 Years in the Making
The Hand Melon Farm started cultivating the land for growing great produce 110 years ago.
“The complex aromas and nuances of flavor are what make the melons so good. The modern melon was bred for disease-resistance, our goal was flavor,” said Hand.
John’s father, Aaron Allen “AA” Hand, began supplying the open-air farm stand then owned by Peter Crowd with melons and corn in the early 60’s. A decade later, Hand took over operation of the building. In 1990, John began running things, enclosed the space, added-on their first small greenhouse and bakery.
Picking the Best of the Bounty
Walking into the cool store across from the Washington County Fairgrounds, you’ll find high-quality, locally-sourced oils, seasonings, meats and cheeses to complement a generous assortment of fruits and vegetables.
To further enhance their medley of goods, Hand chooses the best of the summer harvest available at the Capital District Regional Wholesale Market in Menands. It’s a bounty that includes leafy greens, root crops, and succulent peaches from the Hudson Valley’s Kleinskill Farm.
Hand melons and sweet corn are still the main attraction at both the farm store and their farm stand in the Allerdice Ace parking lot at 2570 Route 9 in Malta, from now until mid-September (or while supplies last).
“We pick melons when they naturally release from the vine. The more yellow it is, the riper it is,” said Hand.
Dedicated to rigorously researched varieties and specific growing standards, Hand sweet corn is selected for its tender kernels and excellent flavor.
Unique finds offer a pop of excitement to your table. Bite-size Mexican cucumbers are picked from the rows of flowers where goldfinches burst forth into the sky. The cut bouquets include a colorful collection of layered dahlias, variegated green and white Snow-on-the-Mountain, and sprigs of rich Amaranth.
“I like big, bold color and lots of contrast,” said Oosterom, who grows all the flowers from seed and picks them fresh each morning.
Hand Melon Farm, at 364 Route 29 in Greenwich, is open daily during the season. For more information, go to handmelonfarm.com
