Xinle Watermelon

Xinle Watermelon

Xinle Watermelon is a geographically protected product.

　　Xinle Watermelon

　　The history of greenhouse watermelon cultivation in Handai Town, Huanhua County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, dates back to 1994. Through continuous development and practice, the Hebei Provincial Government awarded Handai Town the honorary title of "Hometown of Greenhouse Watermelons in Hebei" in 1998.

　　　　Today, Handai Town has established three specialized watermelon markets and three technology demonstration parks. The watermelon industry employs nearly 30,000 rural laborers and has formed a professional group of over 400 farmers whose main occupation is exporting watermelon cultivation techniques. Relying on the watermelon industry parks, a specialized watermelon seedling base has been developed, forming a stable team of seedling specialists that annually supplies around 10 million seedlings to the town and surrounding areas. This has also driven the development of farmer cooperatives. From 2001 to 2003, the Handai Town Watermelon Association was rated as an "Advanced Farmer Specialized Cooperative Economic Organization" for three consecutive years by the Shijiazhuang Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government.

　　　　For over a decade, the large and medium-sized greenhouse watermelons from Handai Town have been known for their soft flesh, sweet taste, and early market availability. They sell well in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and the three northeastern provinces, and are widely distributed across all cities and counties in Hebei Province. The town maintains a perennial planting area of about 20,000 mu for large and medium-sized greenhouse watermelons. In 2005, the planting area reached 25,000 mu, with a yield of 100,000 tons, an average per-mu income of 6,000 yuan, and total income of 150 million yuan for local watermelon farmers.

　　　　Driven by the “Xinshami” watermelon variety, the watermelon industry in Handai Town has formed a complete industrial chain. It has spurred comprehensive development in vegetable cultivation, melon and vegetable sales, transportation, catering, technical services, and seedling production and sales. In 2000, Handai Town registered the “Xinshami” watermelon trademark with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. In 2004, the “Xinshami” trademark was recognized as a “Well-Known Brand” at the First Shijiazhuang Agricultural Industrialization Product Promotion Fair. On June 5, 2005, when Chinese Premier 1 visited Handai Town, he expressed praise for the “Xinshami” watermelon. In 2006, Handai Town applied to the Hebei Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce to designate “Xinshami” as a “Famous Trademark” of Hebei Province.

　　I. Varieties

　　Jingxin No.1, Shengxin.

　　II. Growing Conditions

　　Soil texture is sandy loam, loose and well-drained, with organic matter content ≥14.1g/kg and pH value between 7 and 8.

　　III. Cultivation Management

　　1. Watermelon Seedling Cultivation: Pumpkin is used as the rootstock for grafting. Grafted seedlings should have 3 to 4 true leaves and a well-developed root system when they leave the nursery.

　　2. Planting: The planting period is early April, with a density of 10,500 to 12,000 plants per hectare.

　　    3. Pruning: Retain two basal lateral vines besides the main vine, and select one fruit at the second or third female flower.

　　4. Pollination: Manual pollination is used.

　　5. Watering and Fertilization: Apply no less than 15 tons of organic fertilizer per hectare, and stop watering after the fruit stops expanding.

　　6. Environmental and Safety Requirements: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals must comply with national regulations, and environmental pollution must be avoided.

　　IV. Harvesting

　　Harvest in early June. Avoid harvesting on rainy days, and ensure the melon surface is free of dew.

　　V. Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory Characteristics: The fruit is round; the rind is green with dark green stripes; the flesh is pink or bright red, vibrant in color; the flesh is crisp, sweet, juicy, refreshing, and free of yellow fibers.

　　2. Physical and Chemical Indicators

　　Item                                      Indicator

　　Rind Thickness (cm)                         ≤  1.2

　　Soluble Solids Content (after homogenization) (%) ≥  11

　　Total Acid Content (%)                       ≤  0.15

　　3. Safety and Other Quality Technical Requirements: Product safety and other quality technical requirements must comply with national and local standards.

　　The current administrative regions of Dongwang Town, Hantai Town, Dayue Town, Cheng’an Town, and Zhengmo Town in Xinle City, Hebei Province.

　　Request from the People’s Government of Xinle City, Hebei Province to Include “Xinle Watermelon” as a Geographical Indication Product for Protection, Xinzheng Cheng [2012] No. 23; Shijiazhuang Local Standard: DB1301/073-2012 "Xinle Watermelon"