Seongju-gun ships first harvest of functional 'beta melon'

Seongju-gun in North Gyeongsang Province has shipped its first harvest of a new melon variety called the beta melon.

According to Seongju-gun, the beta melon made its debut shipment Wednesday. The variety was developed by local seedling company Chunjong Seedlings (CEO Nam Si-chun) in Wolhang-myeon. It is prized for its high sugar content and crisp texture, and contains more than 70 times the beta-carotene of a conventional melon. Beta-carotene is widely recognized as an antioxidant.

Four farms covering 1 hectare are expected to produce a total of about 15 tons through next week.

The variety is also suited for two growing cycles a year, in June and September, ensuring a stable supply and strengthening its market competitiveness.

Kim Ju-seop, director of the Seongju-gun Agricultural Technology Center, said the county plans to develop the beta melon into a new growth crop for the local melon industry, drawing on the cultivation technology and distribution networks built up in the country's largest melon-producing region. "We will give consumers more choices while expanding income opportunities for farming households," he said.