dried thinned melon
TOC
Product Overview of Dried Thinned Melon
Thinned melon refers to immature fruit picked off during the growing process of melons. Characterized by a distinctive refreshing aroma and a crisp texture, it is used mainly for pickles, salads, and desserts. Drying concentrates the flavor and texture, and it is characterized by a distinctive texture that can be enjoyed even after rehydration.
Processed into powder, it can add a natural aroma to desserts such as yogurt and ice cream. It can also be used broadly as a material for product development.
Three commitments Agriture values
01 A sustainable material that makes the most of immature thinned melons
In melon cultivation, "thinning"—removing fruit while young to even out the size and sugar content of the fruit—is carried out. We buy up this immature fruit, which would originally be discarded, from partner farmers in Kyotango and dry-process it, making the most of its aroma and crisp texture.
02 Low-temperature drying that keeps the fresh green aroma from escaping
The features of thinned melon are a fresh green aroma close to cucumber or gourd and a crisp bite. Because processing at high heat drives off these individual traits, at Agriture we remove moisture slowly at low temperature, sealing in the material's coolness just as it is.
03 Primary processing with zero additives or glucose
We use no glucose coating or preservatives to reinforce flavor or sweetness. By making the most of fruit that was slated for disposal just as the material is, it is finished into a raw material that matches sustainability-oriented brands and product development.
Product catalog showing the items we handle
Flexible support from small lots to large lots
- Sold in small lots from 100g
- Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
- Dried fruits and herbs also supported
Characteristics as a commercial raw material
Value as a sustainable material
Thinned fruit is an unused resource conventionally discarded. By making use of it as a primary-processed material, it is a high-value-added raw material that can contribute to growers' revenue improvement and food-loss reduction.
A refreshing aroma and coolness
The green-melon-like aroma pairs superbly with hot-season menus, drinks, and dessert development. Just combining it with lemon or mint finishes an impressive dish.
A crisp bite
That the bite remains even after rehydration is the appeal of thinned melon. Used as a material for light pickles, pickles, and dressed dishes, it makes a dish where you can enjoy the change in texture.
Menu differentiation through rarity
The very raw material of thinned melon is rare and has talk value. As a lead material for restaurant seasonal menus and region-limited menus, you can propose a dish with a story.
Ease of building into commercial operations
The convenience unique to dried vegetables, storable at room temperature and usable in the amount you need when you need it. Without pressuring refrigerator space, you can operate with loss kept down.
Affinity with OEM and product development
It also suits OEM projects seeking a unique ingredient feel, such as pickles, dressings, and healthy drinks. Powder processing that makes the most of the aroma can also be accommodated.
Product specifications
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Raw material growing region | Kyoto Prefecture (partner farm) |
Specification | Rough cut |
Storage method | Room temperature (store away from high heat and humidity) |
Best-before date | 6 months from the shipping date |
Minimum lot | From 10 bags / 100 g |
Powder | Available |
Manufacturing period | Summer |
Customization and OEM support
Through cooperation with partner farmers and our own processing facilities, Agriture achieves stable raw material supply and high-quality manufacturing. We can flexibly accommodate OEM manufacturing and also handle consultations on specification changes and packaging.
- Custom-size support (cut-thickness changes, shape adjustments): consultation available for orders of 10 kg or more
- OEM support: available (from small-lot prototyping to mass production)
- Large-lot manufacturing: available (consultation required 3 months before the manufacturing period)
POWDER
We also offer powder products
Agriture offers not only dried vegetables but also a wide range of commercial vegetable powders. If you want to use them as an ingredient for dressings, sauces, or bakery products, please also see the powder product list.
Commitments to variety, producer, growing region, and cultivation
BRAND
Variety:Thinned melon (immature fruit picked off during melon cultivation). Characterized by a fresh green aroma like cucumber and a light, crisp texture, it is a material whose uses spread from the raw state through drying.
PRODUCER
Producer:Cultivation by partner farmers among melon growers centered on Kyotango, Kyoto. We process by regularly buying up the thinned fruit that arises in the cultivation process of the main melon crop.
REGION
Growing region:Kyotango-grown. The coastal climate and temperature swings suit melon cultivation, and aroma builds up firmly in the thinned fruit as well.
CULTIVATION
Cultivation method:Handles both greenhouse and open-field cultivation. Immature fruit produced by thinning work is brought into the processing facility the same day and fed into the drying process.
*Reference: OYAOYA product page
Low-temperature drying that preserves the ingredient's character
At Agriture, to make the most of thinned melon's flavor, color, and texture, we use a drying method that removes moisture slowly over time at low temperature. High-temperature hot-air drying can remove moisture in a short time, but it has the drawback of easily damaging aroma compounds, pigments, and heat-sensitive vitamins. Low-temperature drying retains as much of these components as possible while improving the material's shelf stability, and is characterized by the way the ingredient's inherent flavor rises when rehydrated.
💡 TIPS | Drying-processing trivia
Thinned melon has high moisture content, a difficult material whose aroma flies off easily and whose color browns easily with ordinary high-temperature drying. At Agriture, by adopting a low-temperature, time-managed drying process, we achieve processing that keeps the green color, the crisp bite, and the refreshing aroma in good balance.
Scenarios for Using Dried Thinned Melon
Thinned melon is a unique dried-vegetable material where rarity and a story coexist. It is especially recommended for those looking for sustainable product development or a summer differentiating menu.
A lead material for summer light pickles and pickles
Rehydrate and then pickle with salt or vinegar, and it becomes a summer light pickle that makes the most of the crisp texture. With a unique aroma different from cucumber and other gourd-type vegetables, it is a dish that can differentiate even at izakaya and Japanese restaurants.
An accent for chilled pasta and salads
Rehydrated and combined with salads, carpaccio, or chilled pasta, it finishes into a refreshing flavor. It is a material that adds just the right individuality to summer menu development.
As a raw material for craft cola and herbal drinks
Simmered together with spices and herbs and processed into syrup or a carbonated drink, it makes a craft beverage with a unique greenish aroma. It can also be used for drink development at sustainable brands.
Product development centered on food-loss use
The story of using thinned melon becomes a promotional point as-is in sustainability-oriented product development. It is especially recommended for OEM projects of the unused-resource-use type.
A raw material for gelato, shaved ice, and sherbet
Processed into powder and used to flavor sherbet or gelato, you can plan a green-melon-flavored dessert product like no other. It is also a raw material with high attention as a summer event product.
About commercial and OEM consultations
At Agriture, we form ongoing transactions with melon growers in Kyotango, stably buying up thinned fruit and dry-processing it. For makers and restaurants interested in food-loss use, we support from the prototyping stage through mass production.
Past initiatives and adoption projects can also be seen on the following pages.
- Past initiative case studies are here
- Commercial dried vegetable OEM here
- Commercial vegetable powder here
Product catalog showing the items we handle
Flexible support from small lots to large lots
- Sold in small lots from 100g
- Handling heirloom vegetables from across Japan
- Dried fruits and herbs also supported
Frequently Asked Questions About Dried Thinned Melon
Q. What is the minimum lot for dried thinned melon, and the volume per bag?
A. For commercial use, we can do business from a minimum of 10 bags at 100 g per bag. We can accommodate small lots even at the prototyping and test-adoption stage, and for mass production you can consult with us on package specifications and lot quantities.
Q. What is the commercial price range?
A. The price varies with the raw material market, specifications, lot size, and cut specifications. When you inquire, we will propose a quote to match your desired specifications and lot, so first let us know your required conditions.
Q. What is the lead time from order to delivery?
A. Stocked items can be shipped in about a few days to a week. For made-to-order or custom specifications, there are cases where we ask for a lead time of about two weeks to a month, including raw material preparation and the drying process. Consulting early provides reassurance.
Q. Can you obtain a certificate of origin for the raw material?
A. Depending on the client's request, we can prepare a certificate of origin for the raw material. Since there are cases where we can provide it together with the cultivation information of partner farmers, please let us know the documents you need in advance.
Q. Can you handle food-sanitation and HACCP compliance and export-oriented support?
A. Agriture's processing carries out hygiene management in line with the HACCP approach, and you can consult us on dried vegetable raw materials for export as well. Please also consult us on confirming requirements by destination country and label support when you inquire.
Q. For an OEM request, in what flow should I consult?
A. First, let us know your product image, lot quantity, and desired delivery date via the inquiry form. After a hearing, we propose prototyping, a quote, and a production plan, and once you approve, we schedule mass production—this is the general flow.
Q. Can you handle custom specification changes such as cut size and shape?
RETAIL
For those looking to purchase in small packs
For those who want to try the aroma and texture from a small quantity, our partner brand OYAOYA offers retail packs of 20 g, 80 g, 200 g, and 500 g. They can also be used for sustainability-oriented shelf deployment or as gift products.
Yakuzen properties (for fresh thinned melon)
Thinned melon, as a member of the melon family, shares yakuzen characteristics. It is an ingredient long familiar in East Asia as a food that regulates the body's flushing and water balance in the hot season.
In yakuzen, melon is considered to have a working that lets excess heat escape from the body and regulates water balance. In seasons when you tend to feel summer heat and flushing, a way of taking it in by adding it to smoothies or cold soups is favored. Because it also contains ample water, it is a material to use for developing cool summer-oriented menus.
💡 TIPS | Yakuzen trivia
Making the most of vegetables including thinned melon in a yakuzen way is fundamentally about adjusting to constitution and season. Because dried vegetables can be stored at room temperature, they are a material easy to build into yakuzen recipe prototyping and product development.
In the case of thinned melon, because it has lower sugar content than fully ripe fruit and a lighter coolness, it is characterized by being easy to build into yakuzen smoothies and summer dessert development.
YAKUZEN
For those who want to know more about thinned melon from a yakuzen view
At Yasai Yakuzen, we explain the yakuzen properties of melon and seasonal ways to eat it in detail. It carries information that serves as a reference for those who want to bring a yakuzen angle into product development.
Download the product catalog
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