NordGen is working towards a comeback for the Nordic forgotten melons.
Økologisk NuMelons and the North may sound like a passing trend, but they actually represent a revival of a crop that was cultivated in Nordic regions during the 1600s. According to NordGen, melons were a common crop in Nordic kitchen gardens for centuries, and they have the potential to become so again. Today, interest in growing melons is being rekindled, as reported by the Nordic gene bank in a press release about these round fruits, which botanically are known as "pansy berries." Currently, through the Nordic Melons project, NordGen is taking an important step toward reviving the Nordic melon tradition so that more melons can once again be grown in Danish fields. NordGen's project leader Pawel Chrominski assesses that there is great potential for melons to make a comeback in Nordic agriculture, which today is driven by the need for sustainable food production. "As the climate crisis develops, there is increasing focus on locally produced foods and self-sufficiency," says Pawel Chrominski, a plant expert at NordGen, who emphasizes that preserving historic melon varieties can contribute to food security, economic growth, and a reduced environmental footprint. From a forgotten tradition to tomorrow’s solution Despite its long history, melons largely disappeared from Nordic agriculture in the 1980s. Cheap imports replaced local production, risking the loss of important knowledge about Nordic varieties and their characteristics. Historically, melon cultivation was an advanced and prestigious craft, NordGen explains. Melons likely originate from eastern India, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years. From there, they spread via Asia Minor to Africa and Europe. Early cultivation in greenhouses and orangery settings led to the development of methods specifically adapted to the Nordic climate. Svend Erik Nielsen, associated with vegetable history research at The Old Town in Aarhus, explains: "Mastering melon cultivation was considered the highest level within horticultural craftsmanship. Each farmer developed their own varieties and produced their own seeds." This enabled Danish producers to supply melons throughout the season, and Denmark even exported melons. A clear market gap When melon cultivation ceased, not only was production lost, but also a unique plant genetic and cultural heritage. This makes the current development particularly interesting. The few melon producers remaining in the Nordic region today report strong and clear interest from consumers, retailers, and restaurants, where locally grown melons are sold as premium products and praised for their flavor, quality, and origin. One such producer is Ingmar Nilsson from Påarp near Helsingborg in Sweden. He represents the third generation in his family practicing commercial organic melon production, demonstrating that melon cultivation can be a profitable business. "I grew up with melon cultivation, and the benefits of growing melons in Sweden include lower disease pressure, better water quality and availability, and a better, more complex flavor," says Ingmar Nilsson. According to NordGen, demand already exceeds supply, creating a market gap that Danish organic farmers might help fill. "A project like this, reintroducing melon varieties with a Nordic cultivation history, can help revive melon production in the region," says Pawel Chrominski, who believes that the stories behind the varieties will enable them to be marketed as exclusive products.
Melons in the Nordic countries may sound like a passing trend, but in fact, they represent a revival of a crop that was cultivated in the 17th century in northern latitudes. According to NordGen, melons were a common crop in Nordic kitchen gardens for centuries, and they have the potential to become so again.
Today, interest in growing melons is being rekindled, reports the Nordic gene bank in a press release about the round fruits, which are botanically classified as a so-called pomegranate.
Currently, NordGen is taking an important step towards reviving the Nordic melon tradition through the project Nordic Melons, aiming to bring more melons back to Danish fields.
NordGen project leader Pawel Chrominski assesses that there is great potential for the comeback of melons in Nordic agriculture, which today is driven by the need for sustainable food production.
"As the climate crisis develops, there is increasing focus on locally produced foods and self-sufficiency,” says Pawel Chrominski, a plant expert at NordGen, who emphasizes that preserving historical melon varieties can contribute to food security, economic growth, and a reduced environmental footprint.
From forgotten tradition to tomorrow’s solution
Despite its long history, melons largely disappeared from Nordic agriculture during the 1980s. Cheap imports replaced local production – and thus, important knowledge about Nordic varieties and their characteristics risked being lost.
Historically, melon cultivation was an advanced and prestigious craft, explains NordGen. Melons likely originate from eastern India, where they have been cultivated for thousands of years. From there, they spread via Asia Minor to Africa and Europe. Early cultivation in greenhouses and orangery-like structures led to the development of methods specifically adapted to the Nordic climate.
This is what Svend Erik Nielsen, associated with vegetable history research at Den Gamle By in Aarhus, states:
"Mastering melon cultivation was considered the highest level within horticultural craftsmanship. Each farmer developed their own varieties and produced their own seeds."
This enabled Danish producers to supply melons throughout the season, and Denmark even exported melons.
A clear gap in the market
When melon cultivation ceased, not only was production lost, but also a unique plant genetic and cultural heritage. This makes the current development particularly interesting.
The few melon producers remaining in the Nordic region today report strong and clear interest from consumers, retailers, and restaurants, where locally grown melons are sold as premium products and highlighted for their taste, quality, and origin.
One such producer is Ingmar Nilsson from Påarp near Helsingborg in Sweden. He represents the third generation in his family practicing commercial organic melon production, and he has demonstrated that melon cultivation can be a profitable business.
"I grew up with melon cultivation, and the benefits of growing melons in Sweden include lower disease pressure, better water quality and availability, as well as a better and more complex flavor," says Ingmar Nilsson.
According to NordGen, demand already exceeds supply, creating a market gap that Danish organic farmers might help fill.
"A project like this, reintroducing melon varieties with a Nordic cultivation history, can help revive melon production in the region," says Pawel Chrominski, who believes that the stories behind the varieties will enable them to be marketed as exclusive products.