ChangLe Watermelon

ChangLe Watermelon

ChangLe Watermelon is a geographical indication certification trademark.

ChangLe Watermelon is a product of geographical indication for agricultural produce.

　　ChangLe is located in a warm temperate monsoon climate zone, where spring warms up early with large temperature variations. The area has extensive sandy loam soil rich in potassium, providing ideal natural conditions for producing high-yield, high-quality watermelons. With a long history, ChangLe watermelons are renowned both within and outside the province for their early maturity, thin rinds, crispy flesh, and sweet taste, and are listed as one of Shandong Province’s specialty fruits.

　　ChangLe is a major watermelon-growing county. Its unique geographical location, moderate sunshine duration, and inherited cultivation techniques have made its watermelons famous for their thin rinds, sandy flesh, and sweet juice. Currently, all ChangLe watermelons are produced under standardized methods, with a stable planting area of 200,000 mu, an annual output of nearly 600,000 tons, and an annual output value of about 1.2 billion yuan. Among these, the protected cultivation area covers nearly 160,000 mu, ranking first in the country.

　　ChangLe watermelons have long enjoyed a great reputation, with a cultivation history of 200 years. The Jiaqing Edition of the “ChangLe County Annals” already recorded watermelon planting, and the Republican-era “Supplementary Chronicles of ChangLe County” stated: “The northern part of the county produces the most and best melons, with large quantities transported to Qingdao every year.” The suitable climate and sandy soil rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium have made ChangLe watermelons world-famous for being “early-maturing, large, and sweet.”

　　In 1969, the “Mibao” variety was introduced and promoted, and the watermelon was listed as one of Shandong Province’s famous specialty fruits, beginning to be exported to Hong Kong. In the early 1970s, the cultivation of seedless watermelons in ChangLe filled a provincial gap. In 1972, ChangLe was designated as a production base for special central government melons. In April 1997, ChangLe watermelons passed the national Grade A Green Food certification. In the same year, Tangwu Town was named “China’s Hometown of Seedless Watermelons” by the China Specialties Promotion and Publicity Committee. In June 2000, Yaogou Town was named “China’s No.1 Watermelon Town” by the same committee. In 2008, ChangLe watermelons were designated by the Ministry of Agriculture as a “National Geographical Indication Agricultural Product.”

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical indication protection area for ChangLe watermelons covers the entire administrative region of ChangLe County, including the four towns of Tangwu, Honghe, Yingqiu, and Qiaoguan, and the five subdistricts of Baocheng, Chengguan, Chengnan, Wutu, and Zhuliu. The geographical coordinates are between 118°43′–119°10′ east longitude and 36°19′–36°46′ north latitude, with elevations ranging from 25 to 381 meters. The total production area is 5,800 hectares, with an annual output of 174,000 tons and annual income of 392 million yuan.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: ChangLe County is part of a low mountain and hilly region, with many low mountains in the central and western parts, hills in the southeast, and plains at both the northern and southern ends. Micro-landforms include low mountains and hills, barren slopes, river terraces, slope-foot terraces, near-mountain terraces, and valley terraces. The exposed rocks consist mostly of limestone in the north, basalt in the central and western areas, and granite-gneiss in the southeast. The soils are classified into three types: cinnamon soil, brown soil, and fluvo-aquic soil. The average pH of the topsoil is 7.2, ranging from 6.2 to 8; average organic matter is 1.19%, alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen is 86.5 ppm, available phosphorus is 27.9 ppm, and available potassium is 127.1 ppm.

　　(2) Hydrology: The county has 35 rivers over 5 km in length, but most are seasonal. The total drainage area is 1,568 square kilometers, with a total water resource volume of 305.15 million cubic meters, including 147.35 million cubic meters of groundwater and 297.38 million cubic meters of surface water. Groundwater mineralization generally ranges from 216 to 400 mg/l, with a pH between 6.5 and 8. The mineralization type is HCO3−→Ca++→Cl−→Na+ water. The main influencing factors are non-point source pollution, with no potential large-scale industrial pollution.

　　(3) Climate: ChangLe County has a warm temperate monsoon continental climate in the eastern region, with distinct seasons—warm springs, humid and rainy summers, cool autumns, and cold, dry winters. The annual average temperature is 12.6°C, precipitation is 594.6 mm, relative humidity is 65%, sunshine hours total 2,421.3 hours, and the frost-free period lasts 190 days. Major natural disasters include droughts, floods, hailstorms, wind disasters, and prolonged low temperatures with continuous rain.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: ChangLe watermelons have a long history. The Jiaqing 14th Year Edition of the “ChangLe County Annals” recorded their cultivation, with a history of 200 years. Known for their excellent quality, the Republican-era “Supplementary Chronicles of ChangLe County” noted that “the northern part of the county produces the most and best melons, with large quantities transported to Qingdao.” Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, they were mainly grown in the southern Jintai area of Tangwu and the northern Douchang area of Zhuliu, known as the “Southern Tang and Northern Du.” In 1969, they were listed as one of Shandong Province’s famous specialty fruits. In the early 1970s, the production of seedless watermelons filled a provincial gap, and in 1972, the county was designated a national special melon production base. In 1997, ChangLe watermelons received green food certification. In 1982, the double-film mulching cultivation technique was introduced, and in 1986, grafting techniques began trials. These have now evolved into yang bed graft seedling cultivation and double- or multi-film cultivation primarily using high-temperature and large-arch greenhouses. The ChangLe County government places high importance on watermelon production, making it the leading agricultural industry in the county, with an average annual planting area of 150,000 mu, total output of 600,000 tons, forming one specialized town and 47 specialized villages. Over 10 trademarks have been registered, including Tangwu, Lebao, Yilin, and Taihe, among which Tangwu seedless watermelons were rated as a Shandong Provincial Famous Brand Agricultural Product. Yaogou Town, known as the “Hometown of Watermelons,” was named “China’s No.1 Watermelon Town,” and its watermelon market was designated a national fixed market. The county has successively implemented projects such as the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Farm, National Watermelon Standardization Demonstration Zone, and Watermelon Improved Variety Factory Seedling Base.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Site Selection and Special Provisions: Watermelon cultivation should choose sites with higher elevation, convenient drainage and irrigation, deep and loose fertile sandy loam or loamy soil. Avoid using land where peanuts or legumes were previously planted.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: For protected cultivation, select varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases, easy to set fruit, with good external and internal quality, tolerant to low temperatures and weak light, and suitable for grafting.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: Generally, a multi-film protected cultivation model is used, setting small arch sheds inside large arch sheds, with ground cover film inside the small sheds. Grafting is performed using pumpkin or hybrid squash as rootstock. Transplanting is done when the temperature stabilizes above 10°C and the 10 cm soil temperature in the shed is above 13°C. Sufficient base watering is applied during transplanting. A three-vine pruning method is used, keeping only the main vine...

　　and two lateral vines, fixing them with branches to guide directional growth. Select the second and third female flowers on the main vine for fruit setting and perform manual pollination. Strict formula fertilization is applied, with base fertilizer mainly consisting of well-rotted high-quality manure and soybean meal, and supplemental fertilizer mainly comprising quick-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. During vine elongation, 20 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer is applied with one watering; during fruit swelling, 30 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer is applied with 2–3 waterings. Watering is stopped 5–7 days before harvest. Integrated pest management is practiced, promoting agricultural, physical, and biological measures, while strictly prohibiting highly toxic pesticides. Rotate use of efficient, low-toxicity designated pesticides, and strictly adhere to safety interval regulations.

　　(4) Product Harvesting, Slaughtering, Fishing, and Post-Harvest Processing Regulations: Harvest watermelons in a timely manner when they exhibit inherent varietal characteristics. Typically, seeded watermelons are harvested 35–40 days after pollination, and seedless ones 42–45 days after. Prior to harvesting, sample tests for pesticide/fertilizer residues and sugar content are conducted. During harvesting, grading and packaging are performed, and if temporary storage is needed, choose a cool, dry, and ventilated place.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Accurately record production inputs, especially the names, sources, usage methods, dosages, and application/discontinuation dates of fertilizers and pesticides; harvest dates; quality inspection results; and sales information. Production records must be retained for two years.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Fruits should be normally developed, intact, free from any external damage, fresh and clean; exhibiting the proper shape, color, and stripes of the variety; free from mold, rot, off-odors, pests, or diseases.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Large melons (over 5 kg) should have rind thickness less than 1 cm, small melons (under 2.5 kg) less than 0.3 cm. Large melons should have a central sugar content greater than 10.5 degrees, small melons greater than 11.5 degrees.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Market-bound watermelons must meet the hygiene standards of the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Pollution-Free Melons and Melon Fruits” (NY5109-2005) (see table below). Those falling under the circumstances outlined in Article 33 of the “Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Law” may not be sold.

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Regulations

　　Watermelons of the same variety, regular shape, and uniform size are considered qualified. Those with small or deformed shapes, mechanical damage, or pest injuries are deemed unqualified and handled separately. Watermelons certified as pollution-free, green, or organic must be packaged for sale. Packaging materials must comply with national mandatory technical specifications. Each watermelon is bagged before packaging, then placed in packaging bags or boxes.