Zhugou Small Sweet Melon

Zhugou Small Sweet Melon

Zhugou Small Sweet Melon is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Brand agriculture — leading the agricultural development of Zhugou Town onto a distinctive path. The national registration of Zhugou Strawberry as a geographical indication for agricultural products has improved the product quality and market competitiveness of Zhugou strawberries, promoted the sound development of the strawberry industry in Zhugou Town, and provided a replicable model for the development of other agricultural product industries such as Zhugou Small Sweet Melon.

　　In May this year, Qingdao Honglide Fruits and Vegetables Professional Cooperative officially applied to the Ministry of Agriculture for the registration of “Zhugou Small Sweet Melon” as a protected geographical indication agricultural product, and successfully obtained approval in August. It is understood that Qingdao Honglide Fruits and Vegetables Professional Cooperative was established in April 2009, and currently has 104 members, covering 56 villages in Zhugou Town. Among them, the sweet melon production base has expanded to 10,000 mu. In the nearly four years since its establishment, the cooperative has trained over 4,000 members and helped more than 3,000 farming households engage in sweet melon production. Through the construction and development of the cooperative, the level of organization in sweet melon production has been effectively enhanced, and the reputation and market competitiveness of the products have been improved. Moving forward, the town will vigorously develop the construction of pollution-free sweet melon bases, achieving industrialized, standardized, and branded production of “Zhugou Small Sweet Melon.”

　　Zhugou Small Sweet Melon

　　Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Zhugou Small Sweet Melon is located at the border between Pingdu City and Laixi City. It is 100 kilometers from Qingdao Port, 65 kilometers from Qingdao International Airport, and only 30 kilometers from Laixi Railway Station. Zhu-Zhu Highway, known as the north-south thoroughfare of the Shandong Peninsula, runs through the region. The protected area for the geographical indication product of Zhugou Small Sweet Melon includes 267 administrative villages north of Provincial Road 804 in Zhugou Town, Datian Town, Yunshan Town, Cuizhao Town, Daze Mountain Town, and Jiudian Town. The geographical coordinates are between 36°48′24″ to 36°59′28″ north latitude and 119°52′43″ to 120°17′2″ east longitude, with an elevation ranging from 74 meters to 603.3 meters. The sweet melon planting area is approximately 24,000 mu, with an annual yield of 72,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Zhugou Small Sweet Melon has a regular and well-shaped form, tall and round, with a diameter between 8.5 cm and 10.5 cm and a height between 6.5 cm and 8.5 cm. The rind is yellow-green, the flesh is greenish-white, and the flavor is sweet, crisp, and fragrant. The rind is firm, making it suitable for storage and transport. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The soluble solids content of Zhugou Small Sweet Melon is ≥12%, total sugar ≥8.5%, vitamin content ≥23 mg/100g, iron ≥8.8 mg/kg, and zinc ≥1.2 mg/kg. 3. Safety Requirements: During production, the use of agricultural inputs strictly follows the guidelines for pollution-free agricultural products and operational procedures. Limited chemical synthetic inputs are used within regulated limits, and the product complies with the “NY5174—2005 Pollution-Free Food Melon” standard. 4. Packaging: After harvesting, the melons should be quickly placed in net bags to reduce bruising, then boxed. When boxing, melons should be separated by corrugated paper, and the box should be labeled. Packaging boxes must be non-toxic, unpolluted, and clean. The inner walls of the boxes should be smooth, with ventilation holes, sturdy and pressure-resistant, and treated for moisture resistance. 5. Storage: Store in cool, ventilated, and temperature-humidity-controlled environments such as ambient storage, cold storage, or air-conditioned storage. Mixing with toxic or odorous items is strictly prohibited. 6. Handling: When transporting by vehicle or ship, padding should be added, along with facilities to prevent freezing, sun exposure, and rain. Loading, unloading, and transport should be done gently and swiftly. Mixing with toxic items is strictly prohibited, and transportation via polluted vehicles or ships is not allowed.