Dingxiang Melon

Dingxiang Melon

Dingxiang Melon is an agricultural geographic indication product.

　　Dingxiang Melon is a specialty of Dingxiang County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. The melons produced in Dingxiang County feature thin skins, thick flesh, a sweet and crisp texture, juiciness, and a refreshing taste, making them highly popular among locals. Dingxiang Melon is a product protected under the Agricultural Geographic Indication (AGI) system.

　　Dingxiang County is situated on the eastern side of the Xinzhou-Dingxiang Basin, covering a total area of 865 square kilometers. It is surrounded by mountains on the north, east, and south, while the central and western parts consist of river valley plains, which account for 47.7% of the total area, hills for 21%, and mountainous terrain for 31.3%. The optimal conditions for growing melons include soil with high salinity and alkalinity, which not only promotes growth and early maturation but also increases sugar content and enhances the melon’s fragrance. The Xinzhou-Dingxiang Basin boasts superior natural conditions, with a mild climate, saline-alkaline moisture, and soil rich in organic matter such as saline-alkali components. As a result, the region has a long-standing tradition of melon cultivation. Its long history and traditional farming techniques produce melons with thin skins, thick flesh, a sweet and crisp texture, juiciness, and a refreshing taste—qualities that have made them very popular among the local population.

　　In recent years, the Dingxiang County government has actively supported the melon-growing industry, encouraging farmers to expand cultivation and establishing a distinctive agricultural sector centered on melon production. Each summer, melon planting, sales, and picking along the Dingxiang area have become a local highlight, forming a unique fruit and melon market that has earned recognition from both residents and visitors as the “Melon Homeland.”

　　In 2013, “Dingxiang Melon,” applied for by the Dingxiang County Cash Crop Association, passed expert evaluation and was designated as an Agricultural Geographic Indication Protected Product.

　　Applicant:

　　Dingxiang County Cash Crop Association

　　Region:

　　2013

　　Geographic Scope

　　Dingxiang County is located in the north-central part of Shanxi Province, on the eastern side of the Xinzhou-Dingxiang Basin. It borders Wutai County to the east, Yu County and Yangqu County to the south, Xinfu District to the west, and Yuanping City to the north. It is a major agricultural county with the following geographical coordinates: 112°39′15″–113°16′50″ east longitude and 38°19′22″–38°40′15″ north latitude. The county covers an area of 865 square kilometers. The AGI-protected area for Dingxiang Melon includes nine townships within Dingxiang County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province: Shoulu Township, Jizhuang Township, Hongdao Town, Hebian Town, Jiangcun Township, Jinchang Town, Shenshan Township, Nanwang Township, and Yangfang Township, encompassing 155 administrative villages. In recent years, the melon planting area has consistently remained above 600 hectares, with an annual output of 13,000 to 15,000 metric tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics. Dingxiang Melons have well-developed root systems, with main roots extending over 1 meter deep and lateral roots spreading 2 to 3 meters in diameter. The stems are round with ridges, covered in short bristly hairs, and highly branched. Leaves are simple, alternate, nearly round or kidney-shaped, and hairy. Flowers grow in leaf axils, are unisexual or bisexual, insect-pollinated, and yellow in color. The fruits come in shapes such as round, oval, or elongated cylindrical, and upon maturity, their skins may be white, green, yellow, brown, or display various colored stripes and spots. The rind is smooth, and the flesh can be white, orange-red, or yellow-green, with a fragrant aroma. The seeds are lanceolate or flattened and vary in size. 2. Internal Quality Characteristics. Dingxiang Melons are richly aromatic, sweet, and refreshing, with vibrant colors, heat-clearing and thirst-quenching properties, as well as being nutritious and healthy. Nutritional content per 100g includes: water 91.6g; soluble solids 11.4g; carbohydrates 6.4g; calcium 6.0mg; vitamin C 16.8mg; protein 0.74g; total amino acids 0.73g. The flesh is sweet in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic, and known to clear heat, promote urination, relieve thirst, and treat symptoms such as summer heat, fever, thirst, difficulty urinating, and mouth or nasal sores. The seeds are used to disperse nodules, eliminate stasis, clear the lungs, moisten the intestines, discharge pus, and treat abdominal mass accumulation and constipation. 3. Quality and Safety Standards. The growing environment complies with the NY5294-2004 standards for pollution-free vegetable production environments, and product quality meets the NY5109-2005 specifications for pollution-free muskmelons and watermelons, ensuring the melons are safe, nutritious, and free from contamination.