"Musk melons come from Japan, where they are the most sold variety. They are organic, sweet and difficult to cultivate. This means the technological requirements are high. In 2014 we had our first successful harvest and the market reaction was very positive. To meet the rapidly growing demand, the company increased its cultivation bases all over China," says Mr. Liu Jingle, assistant manager and sales manager of Hainan Chunlu Agriculture Development.
General Manager Zheng Jianjun (left) and Assistant Manager Liu Jingle (right)
"Our greenhouses are located in Hainan, Shandong, Yunnan, Hebei and other regions. The total cultivation surface is more than 800 hectares, making it the largest, extended musk melon cultivation. We are also the only company that can supply the whole year through. The registered label of our melons is 'Meilong'. We chose musk melons for their many special features. First of all, musk melons are rather small compared to other melon varieties. They weigh between 1 kg and 1.75 kg. Secondly, the yield is small. Only one melon per vine. The pattern of the peel is also very fine and the taste is good. Moreover, musk melons are rich in proteins, fibers, carotene, pectin and other nutritional components. Consumers see it as a valuable and nourishing fruit."
Prices go up, but too much demand
"20% of the melons we produce are exported to Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries. The other 80% is sold in Chinese first-tier cities and high-end markets. A survey a few years back indicated that, as living standards improved, the appreciation of melons with a high nutritional value increased. So there was room for the musk melon market to expand and sales volumes to increase. In the coming years, the market will keep expanding, so we wait until the market is ready. Then we will adjust our export proportion to about 50%."
"In order to ensure the quality of the musk melons, we always keep to seeds bought from Japan. At the same time we invite Japanese technical experts to personally come to the cultivation bases and give guidance for the continuing improvement of the seeds. Our investments in quality and innovation have made us the only large-scale company that offers musk melons the whole year through. In the future we hope to keep offering these quality products and services to our customers."
For more information:
Liu Jingle
Hainan Chunlu Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.
Hainan Chunlu Agriculture Development Co., Ltd.