This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = cmd_00147(GDF v2.1.1, ? attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.1.1_tier2_cmd_00147.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Bitter Melon |
| Scientific name | Momordica charantia |
| Family / Genus | Cucurbitaceae / — |
| Produce category | Melon |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4747 |
| PLU — organic | 94747 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_4874 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 25.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| India Long Green | 35% | Long, slender, dark green, heavily ridged, and pointed ends. Known for its intense bitterness. Highly popular in Indian and South Asian cuisine. |
| Taiwan Green | 30% | Medium to large, oblong to spindle-shaped, light green, with moderate ridges. Generally less intensely bitter than Indian types. Popular in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine. |
| White Pearl | 12% | Shorter, wider, blocky to oval shape, with white to pale green skin. Offers a milder bitterness compared to green varieties. Often used in stir-fries and soups. |
| Jade Star | 7% | Vigorous plant producing medium-sized, light green, spindle-shaped fruits with good uniformity. Valued for good yield and disease resistance. |
| Fukien | 5% | Medium-sized, dark green, blocky to oblong fruit with prominent ridges. Offers good flavor and texture with moderate bitterness. A traditional Chinese type. |
| Lucky Star | 4% | Early maturing variety producing medium-long, light green fruits of good quality. Known for high yield and adaptability to various growing conditions. |
| Pusa Do Mausami | 2% | An Indian open-pollinated variety. Produces medium-long, dark green, spindle-shaped fruits. Suitable for cultivation in both summer and rainy seasons. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 30.4°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 3 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Store separately from high ethylene producers.
Mixed-load compatibility
Ethylene-sensitive, non-ethylene producing
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 growing Asian and Caribbean populations, and increasing awareness of health benefits.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.6 |
| Income elasticity | 0.8 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.4 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Chinese Type | 60% |
| Indian Type | 30% |
| Other/Hybrid | 10% |
Pack sizes
- 20 lb carton
- 25 lb carton
- 30 lb carton
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.