Santa Honey Watermelon wins the Presidential Prize at the Excellent Variety Awards by NH Nongwoo Bio

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The National Institute of Crop Science announced on the 27th that NH Nongwoo Bio, which developed the Santa Honey variety of watermelon in response to climate change, including frequent winter rainfall and insufficient sunlight, has been honored with the President's Prize at the 2021 Korea Excellent Varieties Awards.

This variety occupies more than 50% of the domestic watermelon market in winter.

It has improved the shrinkage and deformity of strawberries and has a high sugar content, making it account for the majority of exports. Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services' 'Geumsil' strawberry variety and NH Nongwoo Bio's 'Imperial' habanero pepper variety also received the Prime Minister's Prize. The 'Imperial' is a habanero pepper variety dedicated to canning, which occupies more than 50% of the market in Mexico, the country of origin, and is globally recognized for its pickled products, according to the National Institute of Crop Science.

The varieties 'TY Charman' (tomato) by Daewon, 'Alchanmi' (rice), 'Yellow Dream' (peach), 'Cheongja 5ho' (soybean), and 'AP 1' (watermelon) by Chunjongmyo were selected as winners of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Prize.

The 21st Korea Excellent Varieties Awards ceremony will be held on the 28th at the aT Center in Yangjae-dong, Seoul.

ykim@yna.co.kr