Toyohashi Nambu Winter Melon (Aichi): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

After a short storage period following harvest, it is shipped over an extended season.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

Toyohashi Nambu Togan is a wax gourd notable for its vivid, even-colored glossy skin. It is stored by producers after harvesting, and is available for a long period of the year. Aichi Prefecture is the second largest wax gourd producing prefecture in the country. Toyohashi produces roughly 60% of the prefecture's gourds. Toyohashi Nambu Togan is highly rated for low occurrence of damage to the skin, which reduces waste when the gourds are sold sliced. Prices are therefore about 10-30% higher than those from other locales.

Link with the production area

Production takes advantage of the warm local climate and good availability of water from Toyokawa Irrigation Canal.Producers meet several times a year to share selection standards, methods, sizes, etc. for each step of crop growth to ensure required standards of cultivation techniques are met by all producers, and strict quality requirements are met by all gourds shipped.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s116.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

We have not found a reliable online or furusato nozei listing yet. Ask local farm stands or the producer group.

FAQ

Winter melon (togan) grown in Toyohashi City, Aichi, making use of the warm climate and water from the Toyogawa Canal. Brief storage after harvest yields glossy fruit with even color, shipped over a long season. It accounts for about 60% of Aichi's winter melon output.

Toyohashi Nambu Winter Melon is produced in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture.

We have not confirmed a reliable online or furusato nozei listing. Local farm stands or the producer group are your best bet.

Toyohashi Nambu Winter Melon was registered as a Geographical Indication on March 2, 2022 (Registration No. 116). The registered producer group is Toyohashi Agricultural Cooperative.