Out of season, but a day for melon all the same!

Melon‑producing municipalities across Japan set the 6th of every month as Melon Day (メロンの日).   The main season for melon is May to August, with June generally being the best month for availability. The reason for that is it is the cross over period between greenhouse melon (April to June) and open-field melon (June to August). 

The purpose of creating a monthly "Melon Day" is to promote the fruit’s appeal and boost consumption. The organizers chose the date because the 6th month, June, marks the peak shipping season nationwide and the number 6 resembles the round shape of a melon. Each region highlights its own peak month, using the 6th as a focal point for local promotion.

Ibaraki Prefecture is Japan’s top producer, responsible for roughly one‑third of national output. I had the great pleasure of visiting a melon farm during the time I lived in Ibaraki. I got to pick a melon and eat it straight of the vine. Delicious! Have you ever been melon picking?