Tuesday, June 18, 2024
On Sunday, June 16th from 1:30pm, the first shipment of "Hokuryu Sunflower Melons" was made at the sorting facility of the JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch's agricultural product collection and shipping facility, with farmer Yasunori Watanabe (61 years old) bringing in 35 boxes of melons (each box weighing over 8kg).
First shipment of Hokuryu sunflower melon
Yasunori Watanabe's story
The best in recent years
This year, we had bad weather and cold days from early spring, so we were worried about the fruit becoming too large. However, when it was ready, it turned out to be the best in recent years. The mesh on the outer skin was firm and had a good mesh pattern, and the sugar content was 17.2 degrees (16.5 degrees last year), which is a rare sweetness seen in recent years. Normally, melons are shipped if they have a sugar content of 14 degrees or more.
This year's melons are full of vitality and strength, especially on the stems of the trees. I think they have become sweeter in the latter half of the ripening period.
If the roots or wood are weak, the tree will weaken during growth. When the tree is weak, the balls will turn yellow and become soft.
Let melons ripen after purchase to enjoy them to the fullest.
Regarding how to eat melons, their richness changes when they are allowed to ripen. The sweetness doesn't change, but the sweetness spreads throughout the flesh, making the fruit soft and mellow, and it is ready to eat.
Watanabe told us that the signs that the melon is ready to eat are when it starts to smell fragrant, the stem (vine) turns brown and dies, and the bottom (bottom) feels springy and a little soft.
Hokuryu sunflower melon cultivation and sales, etc.
This year, the Hokuryu Melon Producers Association will have 25 melon farms (covering an area of 480 a) cultivating melons. They aim to ship 20,000 cases by mid-August and achieve sales of approximately 100 million yen.
It will be on sale from this weekend at JA Kitasorachi, Roadside Station Riceland Fukagawa, and eciR (Eshiru) Agricultural Products Direct Sales Store, and at Minoritch Hokuryu Agricultural and Livestock Products Direct Sales Store in Hokuryu Town.
After the green-fleshed melons, four farms in Hokuryu Town are scheduled to ship red-fleshed melons (Hokuto melons) from the end of August to around mid-October.
The king of summer fruits, the sunflower melon, boasts a refreshing sweetness and smooth texture!!!
Filled with love and sweetness, the finest Hokuryu sunflower melon delivers the delicious taste of happiness to people all over the country, with boundless love, gratitude, and prayers...
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◇ Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi (Photography and editing assistance: Noboru Terauchi)
![Information on opening hours for the New Year and New Year holidays. Thank you very much for your support this year. We look forward to your continued support next year. [JA Kitasorachi]](https://portal.hokuryu.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/600369058_1471560681645160_4598938459663909208_n-375x265.jpg)
