# Smoked Cantaloupe Burgers Ducks Eatery Serves a Fruit Burger Patty Made with a Popular Melon By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2018-01-29 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fruit-burger References: [thrillist](https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/cantaloupe-burgers-meat-substitute) & [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/BeT95ClghQW/?taken-by=duckseatery) In previous years, the burger options for vegan and vegetarian consumers available from stores and restaurants have been limited to soy patties—but the rise of the plant-based eating movement has inspired plenty of innovation in this realm that includes [vegetable and fruit burger patties](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/actual-veggies-burgers). Many brands have developed satisfactory burger patty alternatives with ingredients such as ancient grains, [jackfruit and beans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beef-jackfruit-burger), but Ducks Eatery is now taking a unique approach with a most unexpected ingredient—melon. The smoked cantaloupe burger is said to boast a meat-like patty that is similar in taste and texture to real meat. To prepare the melon, Ducks Eatery cures, [ferments, smokes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grubby-and-symplicity), slow-bakes, dehydrates and sears the fruit over the course of two days to create its inventive meat substitute. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 71% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Plant-based Burger Innovations:** The rise of the plant-based eating movement has inspired plenty of innovation in the realm of burger patty alternatives. - **Unconventional Ingredients in Burgers:** Ducks Eatery's smoked cantaloupe burger showcases the use of a most unexpected ingredient—melon. - **Replicating Meat-like Taste and Texture:** The smoked cantaloupe burger boasts a patty that is similar in taste and texture to real meat. ### Who This Affects Most - **Food and Beverage:** The plant-based eating movement has created a demand for innovative burger patty alternatives and unconventional ingredients in the food industry. - **Restaurant and Fast Food:** Restaurants and fast food chains can tap into the rising trend of plant-based eating by offering unique, meat-like burger options featuring unconventional ingredients. - **Food Technology:** Advancements in food technology can help replicate meat-like taste and texture in plant-based burger alternatives, leading to disruptive innovations in the market. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Jackfruit-Based Smash Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-classic-smash-burger.md) - [Plant-Based Human Meat Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/human-meat-burger.md) - [Flavorful Veg-Forward Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juicy-marbles.md) - [Meatless Duck Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-roast-duck.md) - [Plant-Derived Smash Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/delicious-smash-burger.md) - [Savory QSR Jackfruit Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-meatless-mckroket.md) - [Plant-Based Salmon Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-salmon-burgers.md) - [Vegetarian Peppercorn Oil Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bingz-healthy-veggie.md) - [Nature-Inspired Vegan Burgers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/next-level-summer-adventure-trio.md)