As of July 23rd， China’s watermelon cultivation area has expanded to over 20 million mu， with an annual output stably around 60 million tons. According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations， this accounts for approximately 60% of the global total， making China the world’s largest producer and consumer of watermelons. Conservatively calculated， the average Chinese person consumes nearly 100 pounds of watermelon annually.
This impressive scale naturally draws admiration from South Koreans， where enjoying a watermelon is often considered a luxury. Recent reports from South Korean media highlight a persistent heatwave across the nation， leading to significant price increases for various agricultural products， including watermelons， napa cabbage， and radishes. As of the 11th， the average retail price for a watermelon in South Korea reached 29，115 South Korean Won (approximately 151.4 RMB)， representing a 36.5% year-on-year increase and a 22.5% rise compared to the previous week. Retail industry insiders anticipate further price hikes due to the surging demand driven by the extreme heat， coupled with slower growth resulting from insufficient sunlight in June.
