Press Releases

AFCD holds Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024
Tuesday, June 18, 2024

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold the Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024 from June 21. The AFCD introduced four highlighted varieties of organic watermelons this year.

A spokesman for the AFCD said today (June 18), "The annual Local Organic Watermelon Festival promotes local organic watermelons and other premium agricultural products, and strengthens sustainability of local agriculture. It also provides an opportunity for the farmers to share their harvests and interact with members of the public."

Four highlighted varieties of watermelons, namely Huang Yu, seedless 3F-2728, Super Sweet Black Angel 168 and Diana, were introduced under the Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024. The juicy and crisp yellow-fleshed Huang Yu is spherical in shape and green with dark striped skin, with a sweetness of around 10 degrees Brix (degrees of Brix denote the units for measuring sucrose content in a solution). The seedless 3F-2728, which is also spherical in shape and green with dark striped skin, has juicy red flesh and a sweetness of around 10 degrees Brix. The Super Sweet Black Angel 168 is also spherical with dark striped skin in green, and its bright crimson-coloured flesh is juicy with a sweetness of around 12 degrees Brix. Diana, oblong in shape with intense red flesh encased under its bright striped skin in yellow, has a sweetness of around 11 degrees Brix. The sweetness of local organic watermelons is usually between eight and 12 degrees Brix.

The first organic farmers' market of the Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024, which lasts for four days, is co-organised by the AFCD, the Vegetable Marketing Organization, the Federation of Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Societies Ltd and the MTR Corporation Limited. Members of the public can buy local organic agricultural products at 1/F, Maritime Square 1 from 10am to 6pm between June 21 and June 24. Anyone who purchases local organic watermelons on-site will be given an attractive gift. The event will include booth games and workshops for members of the public to enjoy.

Furthermore, the AFCD has continued to invite all regular organic farmers' markets to join the Local Organic Watermelon Festival. Members of the public can purchase local organic watermelons and other seasonal vegetables and fruits at organic farmers' markets in different districts from late June. They can also order from the Vegetable Marketing Organization via the "Local Fresh" website (www.localfreshhk.com) and mobile application, or purchase from certified organic farmers listed on the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre Certification Limited website (www.hkorc-cert.org/en). The opening dates and times of the said farmers' markets can be found in the Annex. Local organic watermelons as well as other seasonal vegetables and fruits are only available for a limited time while stocks last.

For more information about the Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024, please visit the AFCD website (www.afcd.gov.hk/english) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/afcdgovhk).

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold the Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024 from June 21. The AFCD introduced four highlighted varieties of organic watermelons this year. Photo shows Agricultural Officer (Horticulture) of the AFCD, Ms Wong Mun-wai, introducing the highlighted varieties of watermelons as part of the department's promotion of organic farming practices today (June 18).


The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will hold the Local Organic Watermelon Festival 2024 from June 21. The AFCD introduced four highlighted varieties of organic watermelons this year. Photo shows the four highlighted varieties of organic watermelons, namely (from left) Super Sweet Black Angel 168, Diana, Huang Yu, and seedless 3F-2728.

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