Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon

Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon

Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Gaolan has long been known as the "Land of Fruits and Melons." The drought-sand watermelon has a long planting history in Gaolan and is renowned nationwide for its sandy flesh, sweet taste, and excellent texture, making it highly favored by consumers.

　　According to the *Gaolan County Annals* (First Edition, November 1999), the watermelons grown in Gaolan’s sandy fields are large and sweet, as sweet as sugar and honey... According to the *Gaolan Yearbook* (October 2013 edition), "Go to Yangzhou for scenic views, but come to Lanzhou for melons." Lanzhou has long been known as the "City of Fruits and Melons." Gaolan is one of the main fruit and melon producing areas in Lanzhou. The drought-sand watermelon in Gaolan has a planting history of at least 300 years... According to the *Gaolan Historical Tales* (July 2004 edition), the sandy field method was invented during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1662–1722). At that time, Gansu suffered from severe drought, with barren land stretching for miles and no greenery in sight. The industrious and intelligent people of Gaolan, through their hard struggle against nature, came to understand the local climate and production conditions and invented this unique drought-resistant method—laying and pressing sand on fields. Local proverbs bear witness to this: "To ask about the origin of the sandy fields, one must speak of the Kangxi years. Back then, the drought lasted year after year, leaving no seeds in the grass and people suffering. A farmer suddenly noticed seedlings growing in front of a mouse hole, where the ground was covered with sand, keeping the soil beneath moist. The next year, he tried planting with sand covering, and the remarkable results were immediately visible. Word spread from one to ten, then ten to a hundred, and the practice of laying sand fields gradually expanded. Through generations of trials, it proved to be an excellent drought-resistant farming technique." After its invention, the sandy field method was quickly promoted in Gaolan County, Gansu Province. The benefits of the sandy field method include: first, reducing evaporation and providing drought resistance; second, absorbing sunlight to increase ground temperature; third, reducing rain erosion and maintaining soil fertility; fourth, suppressing salinity and improving soil quality; fifth, increasing yield and improving quality; and sixth, saving labor and facilitating cultivation.

　　Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon

　　Cultivation (Fruit)

　　Geographic Scope

　　Gaolan County is located in central Gansu and the northern suburbs of Lanzhou City, between 36°05′ and 36°50′ north latitude and 103°32′ and 104°22′ east longitude. It covers a total area of 2,556 square kilometers with a population of 168,300, of which 150,100 are agricultural residents, accounting for 93% of the county’s total population. The terrain features alternating mountains and valleys, sloping from northwest to southeast, with an average elevation of about 1,700 meters. The main producing areas of Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon are distributed across 38 administrative villages in six towns of Gaolan County: Zhonghe Town, Shidong Town, Shuifu Township, Shichuan Town, Jiuhe Town, and Heishichuan Township. The annual planting area totals 2,630 hectares, with an annual yield of 99,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelons are oval or round in shape, weighing 3–6 kilograms per fruit. The rind color ranges from dark green to light green with dark green stripes. The skin is thin with few seeds, and the flesh is bright red, juicy, sweet, and sandy-textured, cool and sweet in flavor with a high sugar content. The sugar distribution is even between the center and edges, offering an excellent taste and widespread fame as a refreshing treat in the peak of summer. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The total sugar (center sugar) of Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon is 9.5–11.0g/100g, total sugar (edge sugar) is 7.40–9.51g/100g, crude fiber is 0.15–0.21g/100g, soluble solids are 11.0–13.0%, vitamin C is 7.0–7.4mg/100g, and vitamin B1 is 0.011–0.014mg/100g. 3. Safety Requirements: The production environment of Gaolan Drought-Sand Watermelon complies with the national food safety standard *Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Food* (GB2763-2014) (Technical Conditions for Pollution-Free Product Production Environments). Product quality meets the national food safety standard *Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods* (GB2762-2012). The entire production process is controlled according to relevant national standards for processing, packaging, storage, and transportation.