You might say the people's princess is getting a down-to-earth tribute in Hong Kong.
The Diana watermelon, a golden-yellow variety developed by a Taiwanese breeder who greatly admired the late Princess Diana, received approval yesterday from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to be grown here following successful trials.
The Diana, known for its sweet, fine red flesh, was bred by Chen Wen-yu, a hybriding wizard known as the 'Watermelon King' who has created 1,100 fruits and vegetables, including 285 varieties of watermelon, a quarter of the world's total, according to the Taiwan Review. The melon was developed in 1997, the year Diana died.
'All the watermelons in Hong Kong used to be imported,' Chan Siu-lun, a department agricultural officer, said. 'It's not really a new venture. We've been trying to introduce new varieties for two years.'
The department has been keen to promote organic farming, seeing a growing demand. It recommends to farmers varieties of fruit and vegetables that have been tested to give high yields in Hong Kong's climate, and then gives technical advice on how to grow and manage the crops, Chan said.
Aside from an organic version of the Diana, the department also introduced improved varieties of a green bitter cucumber, a yellow cucumber and a mini wax gourd - more commonly known as winter melon or 'mini jade'.