0. Executive Summary
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Judgment axis

Key judgment

Item IdentitySubtropical fruit and vegetable using the fruit of Momordica charantia of the Cucurbitaceae family
Key roleFresh vegetables · Multicultural dining · Dried goods · Powder · Juice · Processed foods · Research · Functional material ingredients
Harvesting principleConsider not only fruit size but also skin color, yellowing, seed maturity, texture, bitterness, and the buyer's intended use.
Product separationSeparate fresh fruit, unripe fruit, cut, dried, powder, frozen, juice, extract raw materials, and individually recognized materials.
Separation of similar itemsA separate Plant Entity from loofah, cucumber, gourds, etc. Even within the same bitter melon, products are separated by ripeness and processing stage.
Domestic statisticsLatest national statistics on nationwide exclusive bitter melon cultivation area and production volume: To be entered after verification of official raw data
Korean production baseCultivation cases involving 195 farms and 45.1 hectares were confirmed in official Jeonnam data from 2016. The mention of a nationwide cultivation area of ​​approximately 100 hectares at the time was based solely on data from 2016.
Supply and demand riskHigh temperature, weather sensitivity, concentrated shipping period, sharp price drop, pests and diseases, overripening, fresh distribution, quality variation of dried products
Operating PrinciplesConnect Seed–Plant–Flower–Fruit–Harvest Stage–Processing–Buyer RFQ to Lot
Final goalSeparating fresh bitter melon from bitter melon for processing, and establishing a contract production and repurchase structure tailored to the actual buyer's specifications for ripeness, size, drying, powder, and extraction.
1. Plant Identity & Product Master

Plant Identity

Basic fields

Yeoju registration criteria

Korean nameYeoju
English nameBitter gourd / Bitter melon
Representative scientific nameMomordica charantia L.
classificationCucurbitaceae · Momordica
Edible partsMainly unripe to edible ripe fruit
Non-edible · Separate managementStems, leaves, roots, overripe fruit, fruit peels after harvesting, and items excluded from sorting
Major harvesting stagesGreen immature fruit / Edible ripe fruit / Yellow overripe fruit / Ripe fruit for seed production
Basic product formFresh fruit, sorted fruit, cut, freezing, drying, tea raw materials, powder, juice, extract raw materials
Basic processing stageSorting → Washing → Cutting → Drying · Freezing · Grinding · Juicing · Extraction · Concentration
Basic useStir-frying, seasoned salads, dining out, multicultural cuisine, dried goods, powders, beverages, food ingredients
Similarity PrincipleSeparation of Plant Entities from Loofah, Cucumber, Gourd, Winter Melon, etc.

The Agricultural Genetic Resources Center manages variety names, origins, and seed morphologies separately for each bitter melon resource; for example, it registers three Bi cui resources as Momordica charantia breeding varieties. ( Seed Bank )

Product Master

Product ID

Product type

Key Management Standards

BIT-P01Bitter melon immediately after harvestVariety · Harvest Date · Ripeness · Color · Lot
BIT-P02Green, unripe fresh fruitSkin color, length, thickness, and texture
BIT-P03Edible ripe fresh fruitColor, size, bitterness, texture
BIT-P04Small sorting andStandards, Color, Uniformity
BIT-P05Medium to large sorting andLength, weight, appearance
BIT-P06Fresh fruit for dining outRipening, bitterness, and delivery cycle
BIT-P07For multicultural ingredientsVariety, Fruit Shape, Harvest Stage
BIT-P08For school mealsSafety, Size, Delivery Time
BIT-P09Washed bitter melonWashing water, product temperature, microorganisms
BIT-P10Cut YeojuCutting width, seed removal status, and hygiene
BIT-P11Frozen bitter melonBlanching status, freezing, and thawing quality
BIT-P12Dry slicesCutting thickness, drying temperature, moisture
BIT-P13Bitter melon tea ingredientsDryness, color, scent, foreign matter
BIT-P14bitter melon powderParticle size, moisture, microorganisms, raw material Lot
BIT-P15Bitter melon juice ingredientsVariety, Ripeness, Juice Yield, Bitterness
BIT-P16Bitter melon pureeColor, Viscosity, Heat Treatment
BIT-P17General extract ingredientsExtraction Part · Solvent · Raw Material Lot
BIT-P18Unripe fruit extract raw materialImmature stage, drying, standardization
BIT-P19Individually recognized functional ingredientsRecognition Number, Manufacturer, Standard, Legal Scope
BIT-P20Yellowing fruitSeparated from fresh edible products
BIT-P21Fruit for seed productionVariety · Maturity · Seed Lot
BIT-P22satelliteVariety, Purity, Germination Rate
BIT-P23by-productSeeds, peel, stem, and excluded fruits
BIT-P24PB finished productsManufacturing Lot · Raw Materials · Labeling · Use-by Date
2. Product Classification & Use Segmentation

Classification criteria

Subdivision type

Management principles

Plant classificationMomordica charantiaSeparated from Momordica species
varietiesActual varieties and genetic resourcesProhibition of estimating variety based solely on fruit shape and color
NegligenceElongated, short-fruited, etc.Link to actual breed and Buyer Spec
Skin colorGreen, pale green, yellowSeparation of accommodation and records
Harvesting stageImmature, ripe, overripe, seed collectionProduct Separation
Cultivation methodEarly and autumn suppression in open fields and facilitiesSeparation of production periods
Distribution methodsFresh fruit, sliced, frozen, driedSeparate Product ID
Processing formTea, Powder, Juice, Extract, ConcentrateCreate Process Lot
Final useFood ingredients, school meals, HMR, tea, beverages, materialsBuyer RFQ
functional ingredientsGeneral food ingredients / Individually recognized functional ingredientsDistinction of legal status
Transaction typeIn-kind · Regular supply · Contract farming · OEM · PB · ResearchContract
originDomestic/ImportedLot separation
3. Production, Harvest & Post-harvest

step

Essential Dataset

Management purpose

Cultivation planVariety · Cultivation Type · Target Product · BuyerMarket-based production
satelliteVariety · Seed Lot · GerminationTraceability
Seedling cultivationSowing date, temperature, seedling ageTomb quality
formulaDate, planting density, facilitiesProduction schedule
survivalGrowth and Missing PlantsInitial stability
Inducement and LandlordMethod, Height, Work DayVine management
Topping and stoppingTreatment timing · Number of stemsFruit setting and labor
GrowthPlant height, number of leaves, lateral branchesProduction forecast
risingTemperature, Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Wind SpeedHigh-temperature crop management
Facility EnvironmentTemperature, humidity, and ventilationEarly and inhibited cultivation
WateringWatering amount · Soil moistureGrowth and fruit quality
disputeType, Quantity, and TimeQuantity and quality
floweringFemale flowers, male flowers, blooming dateFruit set prediction
pollinationNatural, Bee, and Artificial PollinationFruit set stability
Fruit setFruit ID · Fruit Set DateHarvest forecasting
pestsDisease symptoms, pests, and controlProduction stability
virusSymptoms · Diagnosis · Virus IDDisease Intelligence
Excessive negligenceLength, thickness, colorHarvest Timing
Harvest judgmentSkin color, size, texture, and ripenessProduct Classification
harvestHarvest Date · Fruit IDHarvest Lot
SelectionSize, color, scars, and yellowingGrade
purifyingMethods and water qualityhygiene
cuttingStandardization and seed removalProcessed raw materials
dryTemperature, time, and final moisturetea/powder
freezingPretreatment and freezing methodsFrozen Product
smashParticle size and yieldPowder
JuicingYield and FiltrationJuice
extractionPart, Solvent, Ratio, ProcessIngredient
saveTemperature, humidity, and periodQuality maintenance
packagingUnits and packaging materialscirculation
shipmentBuyer · Lot · Delivery DateDelivery
4. Quality Specification & Lot Management

Quality items

Fresh fruit

Pre-treated products

processed goods

finished product

Public rating

SpeciesessentialsuccessionsuccessiontrackingPublic
varietiesessentialsuccessionsuccessiontrackingPublic/Verified
mountainous districtessentialsuccessionsuccessionmarkPublic
farmhouseIDsuccessiontracking-Verified
LotessentialnewnewManufacturing LotVerified/NDA
Sowing and planting datesrecordsuccessiontracking-Verified
Fruit setting and harvest datescoresuccessionsuccessiontrackingVerified
Harvesting stageImmature, ripe, overripeessentialRaw material specificationstrackingVerified
Skin colorcoreSelectionRaw colorBy productMember
lengthcorecoreCutting materialBy productMember
ThicknessrecordSelectionRaw material specificationsIf necessaryMember
weightrecordPackaging specificationsBatchBy productVerified
Protrusions/SurfacesVariety/AppearanceSelection--Member
Tissue hardnessAccommodation assessmentcoreFabrication aptitudeBy productVerified
sulfurationcoreFresh exclusion criteriaSeparate review of extraction, etc.-Verified
OverripecoreProduct SeparationReview by Use-Verified
Seed maturityDetermining the level of maturityCheck when cuttingBy ingredient-Verified
acerbityVariety · RipeningsensualityProduct specificationsBy productMember/Verified
DiseaseexceptionexceptionReview of whether to switch to food-Verified
Wounds/CompressiontestSelectionProcessing Review-Verified
alien substancecheckpurifyingCompliance with standardsCompliance with standardsVerified
pesticide residuestestsuccessionCompliance with standardsCompliance with standardsVerified/NDA
microorganismWhen fresh fruit is neededCut product coreprocessed goodsCompliance with standardsVerified/NDA
dry moisture--coreProduct StandardsVerified
Island--Powder coreBy productVerified
extraction process--Extract Corefunctional ingredientsNDA
Indicator components--By ProductBy Accredited StandardVerified/NDA
packagingFresh fruitPreprocessingprocessed goodsFinalMember
saveessentialessentialBy productBy productVerified
Expiration dateThe relevant citycut partsprocessed goodsLabeling standardsMember
ShipmentrecordrecordrecordrecordNDA
Returns and ClaimsrecordrecordrecordrecordNDA
RepurchaseBuyer ConnectionconnectionconnectionconnectionNDA

Lot Master Required Field

Lot ID · Item/Product Type · Scientific Name/Variety · Fruit Shape/Skin Color · Cultivation Type · Origin/Cultivation Area · Producer · Facility ID · Seed Lot · Sowing Date · Planting Date · Flowering Date · Fruit Set Date · Harvest Date · Harvest Stage · Fruit Length/Growth/Weight · Tissue Hardness · Yellowing/Overripeness · Seed Maturity · Bitterness Sensory Evaluation · Pest/Disease/Virus Records · Pesticide Use Records · Pesticide Residue/Microbiological Test Report · Sorting/Washing/Storage History · Raw Material Lot · Cutting/Drying/Freezing/Grinding/Juicing/Extraction History · Indicator Component Test · Packaging Date · Best Before Date · Shipper · Returns/Claims · Repurchase

5. Korea Market & Demand Structure

Korean production structure

Nationwide bitter melon cultivation area 2025:  To be entered after verification of official raw data
Nationwide bitter melon production volume 2025: To be entered after verification of official raw data

In the current v1.0 version, since nationally approved statistics based on the same criteria could not be verified for the latest nationwide production volume and cultivation area of ​​bitter melon alone, past regional data and current national statistics are not mixed.

The officially confirmed historical regional data is as follows.

base year

Region/Scope

Official figures

Source/Caution

2016Jeonnam

195 farm households

Jeonnam Agricultural Research & Extension Services
2016Jeonnam

45.1ha

Jeonnam Agricultural Research & Extension Services
2016Nationwide mention

About 100 hectares

Explanation of the nationwide scale based on data from the Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services at the time

These values ​​are used solely as historical evidence to understand the production structure in 2016. ( Rural Development Administration )

Data from the Rural Development Administration in 2018 indicated that the total domestic cultivated area for subtropical crops increased from 99.2 ha in 2012 to 354.2 ha in 2017; however, since this is a statistic for all subtropical crops and not just bitter melon, it is not converted to the bitter melon area. ( Rural Development Administration )

Customers

Purchase criteria

Cooperation opportunities

Producer organizations in mountainous regionsVariety, Cultivation Type, Shipping Time, and Marketability RateJoint sorting and contract farming
Wholesale and specialized vegetable distributionFruit shape, color, size, and freshnessFresh B2B
Multicultural food ingredient distributionVariety, Bitterness, Size, RipeningProfessional Buyer
Southeast Asian and Indian diningGreen unripe fruit · CookableRegular delivery
General dining outCutting convenience and bitterness managementMenu development
School and public mealsSafety, Cooking Method, StandardsDiversification of food culture
HMR · Meal KitCutting, Freezing, and Cooking AptitudeHMR ingredients
Dry tea manufacturingDry color, moisture, and raw material purityContract processing
Powder companyDrying process, particle size, microorganismsPowder Product
Beverage manufacturingJuicing, Extraction, Bitterness, BlendingProduct Development
health food companiesRaw Material Specifications · Legal Scope of UseGeneral food ingredients
health functional food companyIndividually recognized raw materials and standardizationPRP · Research Cooperation
PB·OnlineDomestic · Origin · Small PackagingBrand Product
Seed companyVariety, Maturation Period, Disease ResistanceVariety
Research InstituteClimate adaptation, cultivation, and functional materialsPRP
exportersSpecifications for fresh, dried, and processed productsCountry-specific RFQ
6. Trade & Supply-chain Intelligence

step

Key variables

Operational judgment

satelliteVariety, Origin, Germinationproduction base
Korean productionCrop type, shipping period, and estimated volumeSupply Forecast
Import procurementFresh, dried, and powdered formsSupply Gap
harvestDegree of ripeness, color, sizeProduct Classification
Origin sortingGrade · Yellowing · WoundBuyer Spec
refrigerated distributionProduct temperature and delivery timeFresh quality
drySlice · Moisture · ColorYear-round supply
powderParticle size, microorganisms, and raw materialsIngredient
extractionRaw material part, process, indicator componentMaterial RFQ
Distribution and supplyProduct Type · CycleBuyer SLA
RFQSpec · Country of Origin · Degree of ProcessingMatch
RepurchaseQuality, bitterness, delivery time, and processabilityRepeat trading

HS·Trade Management

Since bitter melon products are very diverse, a single HS Code is not applied universally.

Product

HS Operating Principles

Fresh and refrigerated bitter melonCheck the current HSK fresh vegetable sub-classification formula
Frozen bitter melonFrozen vegetables HS code separate
Dry slicesCheck dried vegetable classification
bitter melon powderVerification based on processing status and mixing status
Juice and concentrateBeverages and extracts are classified separately.
General extractHS Verification by Manufacturing Process and Use
Finished health functional food productsHS codes are separate by product
satelliteCheck the seeds for sowing three times
7. Processing, By-products & PRP Intelligence

Products and processes

Key conditions

RFQ conversion

Fresh fruitVariety, ripeness, color, sizeFresh RFQ
Jeongseon Fresh FruitYellowing, wounds, and fruit-like shapesSpecialized distribution
Washing andHygiene and temperatureSchool Meals · HMR
Cutting andCutting width, seed removal, microorganismsMeal kit
freezingBlanching, Freezing, and Thawing QualityHMR
Dry slicesCutting thickness, temperature, moistureTea and food
Roasted dried raw materialsProcess, Color, Scenttea products
powderParticle size, moisture, microorganismsfood materials
juiceJuice yield · bitternessdrinkables
PureeColor, Viscosity, Heat TreatmentSauces · HMR
General extractSolvent, Yield, Solidsfood materials
Unripe fruit extract raw materialHarvesting Stage · Drying · LotResearch and functional materials
Individually recognized functional ingredientsAccredited Standards · Manufacturing ProcessHealth Functional Food
OverripeYellowing and seed maturationSeed collection and research
satelliteVariety, Germination, PuritySeed RFQ
Seed by-productsSafety and IngredientsMaterials Research
peel and stemGeneration Amount · Safetyresource recovery
Non-commercial products andAppearance defects and safetyDrying and extraction review
Disease and Decay DivisionFood supply chain exclusionReview of waste and compost

Separation of Functional and Extracted Products

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recognized unripe bitter melon ethanol extract powder as Individually Recognized Functional Ingredient No. 2020-14 , and the official recognition information includes specific functionalities and recommended intake. ( Food Safety Korea )

However, this basis applies only to the following.

Applicable recognized raw material + Applicable manufacturing process + Applicable specifications

It will not be automatically applied next time.

Fresh bitter melon ≠ Dried bitter melon ≠ Bitter melon tea ≠ General bitter melon powder ≠ Optional bitter melon extract ≠ Individually recognized unripe bitter melon ethanol extract powder

Therefore, general food and health functional food ingredients are separated in MarketHub Product Master.

PRP — Product Research Profile

PRP ID

Product Research Profile

PRP-BIT-01Bitter melon varieties and genetic resources – fruit shape mapping
PRP-BIT-02Relationship between variety, ripening, and skin color
PRP-BIT-03Comparison of Open-Field and Greenhouse Productivity
PRP-BIT-04Comparison of Spring Early–Summer Open Field–Autumn Suppression Cultivation Types
PRP-BIT-05Weather–Fruit Set–Yield Relationship
PRP-BIT-06Flowering date – Fruit enlargement – ​​Optimal harvest time
PRP-BIT-07Harvest Raturity – Bitterness · Texture
PRP-BIT-08Difference between Green and Yellow Fruit Products
PRP-BIT-09Fresh Yeoju refrigerated distribution
PRP-BIT-10Drying Temperature – Color, Moisture, Quality
PRP-BIT-11Dry Slices – Tea Processing Suitability
PRP-BIT-12Bitter melon powder particle size, microorganisms, and storage
PRP-BIT-13Frozen bitter melon culinary aptitude
PRP-BIT-14Bitterness Adjustment Product
PRP-BIT-15Extraction process for general food products
PRP-BIT-16Standardization of unripe fruit extract raw materials
PRP-BIT-17Individually Recognized Raw Material – General Bitter Melon Separation System
PRP-BIT-18Domestic vs. Imported Dried/Powder Cost Gap
PRP-BIT-19Non-commercial goods and processing conversion
PRP-BIT-20Buyer Spec–Harvest Stage–Processing AI Match
8. AX Transformation

first of all

Execution item

Performance indicators

1Variety, cultivation type, origin, fruit setting date, harvest date, and Lot must be mandatoryRequired input rate
2Fresh·Dried·Powder·Extract Product SeparationProduct identification rate
3Connecting weather, facility environment, flowering, fruit setting, and harvestRuntime connection rate
4Datafication of quality, test reports, drying, and extraction historyTraceability rate
5Farm – Processor – Distribution – Buyer RFQ ConnectionMatch rate
6Video AI Negligence DetectionFruit Detection Accuracy
7AI Fruit Length and Color AnalysisMeasurement error
8Prediction of risks for yellowing and overripeningReduction in overripe rate
9Harvest timing predictionActual harvest date error
10Daily and weekly production forecastsProduction volume forecast error
11Diagnosis of pests, viruses, and AIEarly detection rate
12Shipment supply forecastWeekly prediction error
13Drying yield predictionInput–Output Error
14Dry product quality predictiondefect rate
15Fresh–Dry ArbitrageProduct recovery rate
16Cost Comparison of Domestic vs. Imported ProductsBuyer Effective Cost
17AI Buyer MatchSample approval rate
18TraceabilityFinished Product → Fruit Lot Traceability
19Repurchase RuntimeBuyer repurchase rate
9. Industry Problem Bank

Problem group

Problem Definition

Required data

Lack of the latest domestic production statisticsDifficulty in verifying the scale of a single item nationwideNational and Regional Statistics
Mixed varieties and fruit shapesLack of connection between actual variety and trade nameVariety
High-temperature cropsRisk of growth and planting during low temperaturesClimate
Open-field weather changesImpact of rainy season, high temperatures, and drynessWeather
Facility production costsIncrease in costs for early and inhibited cultivationCost
Concentration of production periodPossibility of oversupply in July–AugustHarvest Forecast
Price plungeSeasonal production concentration and demand mismatchPrice·Supply
Variation in pollination and fruit setEnvironmental and pollination effectsPollination
Fruit growth variationVariety, Fruit Set Location, WeatherFruit Growth
Mixed accommodationMixture of green, unripe fruits and yellowed fruitsHarvest Stage
Overripe and yellowingSharp decline in fresh marketabilityColor·Maturity
Bitterness variationDifferences in consumer acceptance by variety and ripenessSensory
pestsLack of pest control information for new income cropsDisease/Pest
virusPossibility of CMV or other viruses occurringVirus Test
Registered Drugs · PLSManagement of pest control agents for small-area cropsPesticide
Harvest laborContinuous fruit setting and repeated harvestingLabor
Fresh distributionQuality degradation · sulfurizationTemperature
Variation in dried productColor, moisture, foreign matter, country of originDrying
Powder quality variationParticle size, microorganisms, moisturePowder Spec
General food – Health functional food combinationLegal risks of functional expressionRegulatory
Extraction process unclearEven with the same female lead, the subject matter varies.Processing
Domestic vs. Imported CompetitionCost Gap of Dry and Powdered Raw MaterialsTrade·Cost
Non-products and utilizationDefective shape and lack of non-standard utilizationProcessing
Buyer demand dispersionFresh, Tea, Powder, Extract Buyers are DifferentBuyer
Insufficient contract productionExpansion of production without a target productContract
Repurchase not reflectedActual consumption and processing evaluations are not fed back into cultivationEvaluation
10. Farmer RFQ & Collaboration Model

RFQ Type

Public Registration

Verify/NDA

Yeoju Local ProcurementVariety, Region, Shipment DateFarm, Volume, Unit Price
Fresh fruit salesVariety, Fruit Shape, RipeningLot · Price · Inventory
Buying fresh fruitLength, color, and harvest stageTarget Price · MOQ
Regular supplyProduct · Period · CycleWeekly volume and price
contract farmingVariety, Cultivation Type, RegionArea, Quantity, Price
Spring early cultivationShipment · ProductFacilities and Estimated Amount
Autumn suppressed cultivationShipment · ProductFacility and production costs
For dining outGreen unripe fruit · StandardDelivery cycle · Price
Multicultural ingredientsFruit shape, bitterness, and sizeactual demand
school mealsSafety and StandardsTest Reports and Quantity
Cutting · HMRCutting type · RipenessExpiration date · Microorganisms
freezingWhole/CutProcessing Yield · MOQ
Dry slicesThickness, moisture, colorDrying yield and price
Tea ingredientsCountry of origin and drying specificationsTest Report · Lot
powderParticle size and moistureMicroorganisms · MOQ
juiceRaw material ripeness and bitternessJuice extraction test
General extract ingredientsPlant parts · Dry conditionExtraction Process and Test Report
functional materialsImmature fruit and standardizationScope of Recognition · NDA
OEM·PBProduct conceptRecipe · MOQ · Contract
satelliteVariety/Seed InformationGermination · Lot
importFresh/Dried/PowderHS · Price · Country of Origin
exportProduct · Target CountryQuarantine, Price, and Volume
Technology demonstrationCrop type · AI harvest · DryingDataset
Research cooperationVariety · Disease · Extraction · FunctionalityResearch data
Utilization of by-productsSeeds, pericarp, and standardized non-perforationSafety and Use
11. RFQ Request First

① Need Products & Materials

Companies and institutions seeking necessary products, agricultural products, raw materials, and processed goods register purchasing demands. Registered requests are utilized to review cooperation with potential suppliers and producers based on the RFQ Intelligence Library.

Process:
RFQ Registration → Supplier/Product Review → Collaboration Connection → Future AI Matching

Register


② We are looking for production and manufacturing partners. (Need Suppliers & Manufacturers)

Register a request to find necessary production and supply partners, ranging from farms and producer organizations to processing companies, OEM, ODM, and private label manufacturers.

Process:
RFQ Registration → Review of Production & Manufacturing Capabilities → Collaboration Connection → Future AI Partner Matching

Register


③ We are looking for domestic and international buyers. (Need Buyers)

Farmers, producer organizations, and manufacturing companies are requesting cooperation with new buyers, such as domestic and international distributors, importers, brand companies, and food service and catering businesses.

Process:
RFQ Registration → Product & Supply Capability Review → Market & Buyer Connection → Future AI Buyer Matching

Register

Contact : mail@markethub.org

Version History

Version

Main contents

situation

v1.0Plant Identity · Domestic Cultivation · Ripening · Fresh · Drying · Powder · Extraction · RFQ Basic Structure Registrationcomplete
v1.1Verification of the latest official raw data on production, region, market, HS, and import/exportexpected
v2.0Detailed quality standards by variety, harvest stage, and Fresh, Dried, Powder, and Extractexpected
v3.0Producer–Drying/Processing–Extraction–Distribution–Buyer Verified Container Combinationexpected