Xingmei Watermelon

Xingmei Watermelon

　　Xingmei watermelon is produced in Meibu Town, Hedong District. Thanks to the town’s location on the alluvial plain of the Yi River, featuring neutral sandy loam soil rich in water, nutrients, light, and heat—ideal conditions for growing various fruits and melons—Meibu Town has a long history of cultivating watermelons. Since the late 1960s, local varieties such as large-seeded watermelons have been grown. In the early 1980s, new varieties were introduced, and watermelon grafting techniques were implemented, leading to a significant increase in both planting area and yield per unit. By the late 1990s, the planting area had reached 5,000 mu. Coupled with the adoption of plastic film mulching, the early market availability and extended sales period gave Xingmei watermelons a competitive edge in the marketplace.

　　　　In recent years, the Meibu Town Party Committee and government have actively promoted the “Expand Scale, Build Brand” initiative, bringing the town’s watermelon cultivation area to 1,000 mu. With Xingmei watermelons being of moderate size, having thin rinds, sandy flesh, and high sweetness, they were awarded the title of “Top Ten Famous Melon and Vegetable Products of Linyi” in the citywide high-quality melon and vegetable competition in June 2000. In 2002, the brand was registered nationally as “Xingmei” by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and recognized as a pollution-free agricultural product by the Shandong Pollution-Free Agricultural Products Certification Committee.