Growers beat Southern melons by two weeks
China: Early start Shandong watermelon season
"Thanks to the good weather we were able to harvest two weeks earlier this year. This is great for us. Now our watermelons are available on the market before the new crop from Hainan in the South is arriving," says Mr Fan Shumin of the Qingzhou Hongli Vegetable and Melon Cooperative.
The Cooperative grows the Changle watermelon, which is a special early variety that originates from Shandong province. Usually, Shandong watermelons are available just after the Hainan harvest. Depsite the early harvest, quantity and sweetness levels are good. Sugar contents ranges around 12 to 14 brix.
"Qingzhou county is famous for its melon production. Currently, there are 17,700 hectares of melons in our vicinity. By June an estimated 1,125,000 tons of different watermelon and seedless watermelon varieties.This week, market prices are around 3.6 Yuan per kilogram. Prices will go down once the full harvest comes into swing."
"Our Cooperative supplies clients in the Northwest and North of China. Most of our clients are wholesalers. In addition, we have also started to supply a number of supermarkets that want to purchase from the farm directly. Currently our cooperative directly supplies watermelons to Wenshi Fresh Produce Chain Supermarket in Changchun city and Yiwo Chain Supermarket in Dalian city."
"When Shandong watermelon ends by the end of June, we will start to source from watermelon production areas in Northeasterns regions such as Liaoning and Heilongjiang province. As such we can offer long term watermelon supplies to our customers. Next to this, watermelons from the Northeasterns region are good in quality and taste because of the high temperature difference between day and night and the sand soil on which they are grown."
"In general, watermelons from Hainan and Yunan regions are the first to arrive on the market in China. They are followed in the mid of May by watermelons from Shandong. Finally, watermelons from Northeastern regions will supply the market from the end of June until October. After October, Shandong out-of-season watermelons and Guangxi seedless watermelons will be available until November. As of December, watermelons from Cambodia, Laos and other Southeast Asian countries will occupy the Chinese market."
For more information:
Mr. Fan Shumin
Shandong Qingzhou Hong Li Vegetables and Melons Production & Sales Cooperative
Phone: +186-6363-3839 & 158-6611-2600
Wechat: fanshumin8888888
E-mail: 951936564@qq.com