Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Barbara McAllister
WORD OF THE DAY: Cantaloupe
These small, round melons with orange flesh and ribbed skins are so called because they were first grown in Cantaloupe, a town in Italy near Rome.
Other foods named for the place where they originated include cheddar cheese from Cheddar, England; tangerines from Tangier, Morocco; champagne from the Champagne region of France; lima beans from Lima, Peru; romaine lettuce from Rome; and sardines from the island of Sardinia.
Did you think Fig Newtons were invented by Sir Isaac Newton? They were named in 1891 by the Kennedy Biscuit works for the nearby town of Newton, Mass.
The name cantaloupe itself is from the Latin canto — sing — and lupi — wolves. It translates to “singing wolves.” The town in Italy was apparently named for the howling of nearby wolves. If you find it difficult now to enjoy cantaloupe without thinking of wild wolves, you might want to stick to the harmless honeydew.
