From the Shining Land-2

I recently visited Suzuki Farm, which produces Japanese vegetables in Delmar, Delaware. It is located in the middle of the Eastern Shore on a road that goes straight down 74 miles (120 km) south from Chestertown, Maryland, where I live. By the way, the southernmost tip of the Eastern Shore is Northampton, Virginia, which is 183 miles (300 km) about four hours away. Beyond that point, there is no land, so there is a bridge tunnel to go through the mainland. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, with its 12-mile (19 km) bridge and two one-mile (1.6 km) tunnels, is said to be one of only 14 special bridge tunnel systems in the world. I would like to drive this bridge tunnel someday, which is partially scary, from the bridge that goes down to the very edge of the water to get into the tunnel. I had talked about this Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel with Mr. Tsuda, the mastermind of the Suzuki farm, it was on both of our bucket lists.

I sent out a newsletter titled "From the Shining Land" in June 2021 about Mr. Suzuki, and he is such an inspirational person that I can't help but talk about him.

This time, however, I would like to talk about muskmelons. One muskmelon on a tree absorbs nutrients and produces a large melon, which can be produces a large melon, and there can be two or three melons on one branch. The medium-sized melons (4.5 lbs) are more popular than the huge melons like watermelons.

Fruits in Japan are more like desserts than food, and just like jewelry, the price of fruit depends on the quality of the fruit, such as its sweetness and texture. 

The quality of muskmelon is said to be more expensive the narrower the spacing between the meshes of the skin on the surface. The more uniform the fineness of the meshes, and the more raised the meshes are, the higher the melon is regarded as a "high-grade" melon. The difference in the price of melons (up to $100.00), according to grade, is much larger than that of other fruits, but from the standpoint of producers and sellers, it is necessary to estimate the taste of the inside of a melon as accurately as possible by simply looking at its appearance, without cutting it.

I looked into various resources (mostly in Japanese) how the surface is formed, which is the key to determining the quality of muskmelons. Here I describe its unique structure.

The raised surface covered with a white mesh pattern is made of suberin, the same material as cork. It has the same softness and elasticity as a ball used in sports.

These meshes are said to be the remnants of cracks created during the melon's growth. In fact, the surface of the muskmelon is smooth in the early stages of growth, and the skin gradually hardens as the melon grows. However, the flesh inside the melon continues to expand (hypertrophic growth), and the growth rate of the epidermis is not proportional to the expansion rate of the flesh, and fine cracks begin to appear one after another on the epidermis.

As the epidermis cracks, liquid suberin is secreted from within to fill the cracks and prevent water evaporation. The white mesh pattern that forms between these cracks is suberin, and it is proof that the melon farmers have taken the time and effort to ensure quality by adjusting the growth rate of the inner fruit so that the mesh pattern is finer, and by limiting the timing and amount of watering until it hardens.

Mr. Suzuki's melons are truly magnificent. This year's melons are reasonably priced due to the unpredictable harvest time. Again, grading is left to the discretion of the producer. Next year, Mr. Suzuki is even aiming for a finer product, which Mr. Tsuda expects will be in a much higher price range. That is no reason for not buying it for $45.00 this year!

Mr. Tsuda commented, “To know when the melon is ready to eat, use all your senses to feel the appearance and softness of the skin as well as the aroma. It tastes better if you let it cool for about half a day before eating.”

I worship my melon every day to get the sense of it. (laughs).

Originally, this was just a preamble, and I was going to talk about silk.

The story of silk overlaps with Mr. Suzuki's work as a farmer. What is important is the quality of farming. Growing things and passing them on to consumers. There are many things I can relate to. I will write about the silk story next time.

I hope you enjoy the fall harvest, the fall season of taste and appetite.

This month's scarf is of course, muskmelon.

Thank you so much for reading my newsletter this month, again.

-Yuh Okano