30 - 40 lb Seasonally sourced from Canada, Florida, Mexico, and New Jersey Bitter Melon aka "Bitter Cucumber", "Bitter Gourd", "Ku-Gua", "苦瓜" Bitter melon is a cucumber-shaped vegetable with a warty, pebbly surface. It usually grows up to five to eight inches long. Bitter melon tastes crunchy and bitter with large tan seeds that are usually removed before use. Bitter melon is usually stir fry or stuffed with minced pork as a side dish. Bitter melon is available year-round. Handling Tip Selection Bitter melon has a bright green color with no signs of blemishes or mold. The stem is green and moist. As the bitter melon ripens, the flavor becomes stronger. Storage Bitter melon should be stored at 53°F - 55°F (12°C - 13°C) with a relative humidity of eighty-five to ninety percent and no mist. The typical shelf life is up to two weeks. Individually wrapped bitter melon has a longer shelf life. Bitter melon is sensitive to ethylene, a naturally occurring gas that regulates ripening. Bitter melon should not be stored with high ethylene-producing products to extend shelf life and avoid over-ripening. Bitter melon produces a low level of ethylene. Ethylene production increases as the vegetable ripen. Bitter melon is highly sensitive to chilling injury at storage below 50°F. Symptoms include skin shriveling, reduction in firmness, and development of brown/water-soaked spots. Sometimes, chilling injury symptoms may not be apparent until return to a higher temperature.
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