Winter Melon from Chonglou

Winter Melon from Chonglou

　　Winter melon is one of the local specialties of Chonglou. It can be planted in both spring and autumn and is one of the main vegetable crops supplied during summer and autumn. There are two varieties: black-skinned winter melon and gray-skinned winter melon. The plant has a well-developed root system, strong growth vigor, and high yield—typically around 10,000 jin per mu, with high-yield fields reaching 17,000 to 20,000 jin. Chonglou winter melon features thick flesh, superior quality, and a sweet and refreshing taste. Both young and mature melons are edible. In addition to being used in braising, stir-frying, stewing, and making soup, they can also be dried, made into candied fruit, or used in other processed forms. The sprout at the top of the melon is considered a delicacy served in teahouses. The seeds can be used medicinally, while the dried rind can also be used in medicine or cooked with red beans in soup to help relieve summer heat. The melon can also be made into sweet soups to treat skin conditions such as eczema, which is why it is highly favored by consumers.

　　Chonglou winter melon products have been successfully sold in provinces including Hunan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Gansu, Sichuan, Shandong, Henan, and Fujian, as well as cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Lanzhou, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai.

　　In 2002, vegetables from Chonglou Town were tested and certified by relevant provincial authorities, and were recognized as “Pollution-Free Agricultural Products” by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture. The “Production Technical Regulations for Black-Skinned Winter Melon” centered on Chonglou Town were issued by the Jiangmen Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision as a local standard of Jiangmen City, along with other related technical regulations for producing pollution-free agricultural products. Currently, efforts are underway to apply for the title of “Demonstration Town for Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Production” and to register the “Chaizhong Black-Skinned Winter Melon” trademark for Chonglou. (Taishan)