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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Korean Melon |
| Scientific name | Cucumis melo var. makuwa |
| Family / Genus | Cucurbitaceae / — |
| Produce category | Melon |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4390 |
| PLU — organic | 94390 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_20040 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 20.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shinhwa | 30% | Very popular hybrid. Bright yellow skin with distinct white sutures. Crisp, sweet, white flesh. Good yield and disease resistance. Excellent flavor and aroma. |
| Sun Jewel | 25% | Widely recognized hybrid. Similar appearance to Shinhwa, with bright yellow skin and white stripes. Known for its consistent sweetness, juicy texture, and pleasant aroma. Good for fresh consumption. |
| Golden Star | 15% | Common hybrid, often slightly more elongated than round. Bright golden-yellow skin with subtle white stripes. Sweet, aromatic flesh. Good for home gardens and commercial production. |
| Early Star | 10% | Valued for its early maturity, making it suitable for regions with shorter growing seasons. Produces consistent, medium-sized fruits with bright yellow skin and white sutures. Sweet and crisp. |
| Sweetie | 8% | A newer hybrid known for exceptionally high sweetness (Brix levels). Features bright yellow skin with white stripes and very juicy, aromatic flesh. Good disease resistance. |
| Cheonggang | 5% | A more traditional type, though often improved selections are sold. Known for good flavor and aroma, but may have slightly less uniformity in size and shape compared to modern hybrids. Bright yellow s |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 45°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 3 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | moderate |
| Production rate (20°C) | 5 uL/kg/h typical (1–10) |
| Sensitivity class | high |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: Store separately from ethylene-sensitive commodities.
Mixed-load compatibility
Ethylene producers, sensitive to ethylene and strong odors
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Increasing, driven by ethnic market growth and culinary diversification
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 1.2 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.5 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Standard Korean Melon | 100% |
Pack sizes
- 10-12 count per 1/2 carton
- 15-20 lb cartons
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.