VietNamNet Bridge - Some families in southern Vietnam have reported that watermelons they bought many months ago are still fresh. They have sought an explanation from relevant agencies.

This watermelon is still fresh after over six months.

Before the Lunar New Year 2015, Mr. Pham Van Dung, 51, a resident of Ong Ich Khiem Street, District 11, HCM City bought a pair of watermelons to display on the altar. After half a year, the fruits are still fresh.

Seeing the odd phenomenon, Dung cut a watermelon into segments to check. He found that the pulp was still red and sweet.

"Its taste was not different from ordinary watermelons. However, I then threw it in the dustbin," Dung said.

Dung said he bought the watermelons from a fruit seller at Binh Thoi Market in District 11 for VND100,000 each.

Mr. Pham Van Chon, 46, a resident of Hoa An Commune, Cho Moi District, An Giang Province told Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper that he bought two watermelons totaling 10 kg on December 28, 2014, at the market of Lap Vo district (Dong Thap Province) for VND30,000 dong ($2).

He was very busy so he forgot the watermelons on the altar. After several months, he found the fruits were still fresh on the altar. He cut a watermelon and saw the pulp was still very red and fresh.

Gardeners said that after harvest, watermelons can be kept for 7-20 days.

Nguyen Huu An, head of the Plant Protection Bureau of An Giang province, said the relevant agencies would test the left watermelon of Mr. Chon.

"Usually fruit will be rotten one month after harvest. There are two ways to explain these cases: the first is good genes and the second is the use of preservatives," said An.

An said it would be very difficult to identify the preservatives used in the fruit because hundreds of different kinds of preservatives are in use.

Manh Ha