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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Winter Melon |
| Scientific name | Benincasa hispida |
| Family / Genus | Cucurbitaceae / — |
| Produce category | Melon |
| Produce subcategory | Gourd |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4700 |
| PLU — organic | 94700 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_8407 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 15.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tainan No. 3 | 30% | A leading commercial variety, producing large (20-30 lbs), elongated, cylindrical fruits with dark green skin and a distinctive white powdery bloom. Known for its thick, white flesh, excellent yield, |
| Black Winter Melon (Type) | 25% | Represents a category of large, dark green, elongated winter melons. These varieties typically have very thick, firm white flesh and are prized for their robust flavor in soups and stews. Excellent fo |
| Fuzzy Melon Green (Mo Qua) | 18% | Harvested immature (1-2 lbs), these varieties have light green skin covered in fine, soft fuzz. The flesh is tender and mild, making them popular for stir-fries and quick soups. Distinctly shorter sto |
| White Skin Winter Melon (Type) | 12% | Encompasses varieties with pale green to almost white skin, often with a powdery bloom. Fruits are typically large and elongated, similar in culinary use to green-skinned types, offering a slightly mi |
| Miniature Winter Melon | 8% | Bred for smaller, more manageable fruit sizes (2-5 lbs), often round or oval. Ideal for home gardens and smaller households, offering the traditional winter melon flavor and texture in a more convenie |
| Kohiki | 3% | A Japanese variety known for its relatively smaller, often rounder fruits with light green skin. Valued for its delicate flavor and texture, suitable for pickling, soups, and stews. Offers good storag |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 2 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Does not ripen further after harvest. Store away from high ethylene producers if possible, though sensitivity is low.
Mixed-load compatibility
Compatible with most produce; avoid strong odor emitters/absorbers if sensitive.
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 cuisine popularity and health trends
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.7 |
| Income elasticity | 0.8 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Standard | 100% |
Pack sizes
- Whole (5-50 lbs)
- Half
- Quarter
- Wholesale case (30-50 lbs)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
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