Domingo is collaborating with towns in Hokkaido for a month-long project, and this first installment will focus on Abira Town! Over the course of four weeks, we will be bringing you information on how to enjoy the town and its special local products. This time, we would like to introduce the "Asahi Melon" from the Oiwake Asahi Melon Association as a specialty product of Abira town. harahachifarm homepage Abira Town Hometown Choice

What is "Asahi Melon"?

Asahi melon is one of Hokkaido's leading brand melons, produced in the Oiwake area of Abira town.

Provided by: JA Tomakomai Wide Area

This is a red-fleshed, net-like melon with a mesh-like skin, and its appeal lies in its high sugar content, which is achieved by the temperature differences unique to Abira Town, the proper temperature control by the producers, and the creation of soil that is ideal for melons, based on well-draining volcanic ash soil.

History of Asahi Melon

The Asahi Melon was first cultivated in 1964 when three farmers decided to grow a new crop in the Asahi district of the former Oiwake town, a mountainous area. The high quality of Asahi melons is the result of over 50 years of research and continuous improvement. Currently, 25 producers are working tirelessly to produce Asahi melons. They produce three varieties that are suited to the climate of Abira Town - Rupia Red, Tiara, and Red 113 - so you can enjoy delicious Asahi melons for a long period from May to October. Rupiah Red is shipped from mid-May to mid-August, Tiara from early July to mid-August, and Red 113 from mid-August to October. The variety we are offering in this giveaway campaign is the "Rupia Red." Its skin has a fine, beautiful mesh pattern, and the flesh is firm and lasts a relatively long time.

The attention to detail that goes into Asahi Melon

The biggest feature of Asahi melon is its sweetness. Standards state that the number of melons that can be grown is limited to four per plant, and melons with a sugar content of less than 14 degrees cannot be shipped. Only high-quality melons that have passed rigorous inspections are sold as "Asahi Melon." The producers themselves act as "demonic chief inspectors" and conduct fair and impartial inspections, which apparently motivates them to produce even more.

A producer who personally performs the "demonic inspection"

Because the producers handle everything from sowing the seeds to sorting, Asahi melons are of such high quality that they have grown into a brand melon.

Asahi melon is ripe to eat

Asahi melon is ripe to eat when the tip of the vine has wilted!

Asahi melon ripe to eat

If it's too chilled, the sweetness will be less noticeable, so it's recommended to put it in the refrigerator about 2 hours before eating! Be sure to check it out on the website!

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