A small melon being tried in farmers’ fields in the Philippines has shown great promise as another profitable crop to grow. This is the Jill Apple Melon, a new variety of oriental melon,  which has several desirable characteristics.

The new melon hybrid bears small fruits that may weigh three pieces to a kilo. Its white flesh is aromatic,  crunchy, sweet and juicy. It is prolific and can produce six to ten fruits per vine as per the experience of Noel Villaruel of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo province. The fruits can be harvested in 50 to 60 days after planting so it is not exposed to inclement weather for a long period.

The farmers who have tried planting Jill Apple Melon in their farms are impressed by the quality of the fruits as well as the ease of culture required. One of the farmers who tried the new variety is Noel Villaruel of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. In  his trial planting where he spent a total of P1,500, he was able to harvest 600 kilos that he sold for P18,000 to students of the Central Philippine University in Iloilo.

He observed that the students and faculty alike love to eat Jill Apple Melon for snack. That’s much better than junk food that is usually bought by parents for their children’s snacks. The other farmers who have planted the mini melon include Zaldy Servas of Oton, Iloilo; Maricel Galang of San Isidro,  Nueva Ecija; and Edwin Manalo of Bagac, Bataan.

Jill Apple Melon is also ideal for planting in home gardens for home use or for sale as additional source of income. It was developed by Known-You Seed of Taiwan and is being distributed in the Philippines by Known-You Philippines. The company’s marketing manager is Julius Barcelona who can be contacted at 0917-320-7889 for more information.