Forty bucks for a Watermelon
You may be shocked to discover that a medium seedless watermelon in Tokyo can cost up to $40.00 USD.
It doesn’t stop there, how about $10 USD for an ounce of blueberries, or $10 for a cantaloupe?
Surprisingly this is common place in the land of the Rising sun. The reason is that Japan grows very little of its own produce and has the majority of it imported, hence the terrible over-pricing.
This is rather baffling as just across the pond in China you can buy the same watermelon for $2.00 USD. This writer is not convinced that the cost of importing fruit from China to Japan could result in such outrageous pricing.
Fruit is so expensive that it is in fact considered a luxury item, something you give to someone to show great gratitude or thankfulness. Or if you really want to treat someone you’ll get them some fresh fruit.
The most expensive fruit in Tokyo by weight would be Blueberries & Raspberries, followed by watermelon. Strangely, bananas cost about the same as they do in the USA.
Even Worse
Even more shocking are the rare Densuke watermelon grown in Hokkaido; which can cost in upwards of $300 USD. Only about 10,000 are grown a year and you can only find them in Hokkaido (Japan’s northern most island) The Densuke melon’s rind is completely black and its flesh bright red.
No matter how rare and scarce, how could one possibly pay such a price for a watermelon!?
Let’s be honest, how different could the taste possible be?
Consumers say that the melon has a unique crisp, flavour and sweetness.
This writer is not so easily convinced, there is only one way to find out, and that is to lay the money on the table and find out first hand.
For those who’d like us to review first hand a Densuke Melon please feel free to donate to help pay for the ridiculous price tag.
The Tops
Can it get any more absurd? Yes it certainly can, if you thought $300 for a watermelon was exorbitant, how about $70,000 USD?
Keep in mind of course that this is only paid for the ‘first melon of the season’ as a promotional gesture and to support the industry.
Conclusion
Clearly the economy can’t be too bad as long as there is a market for $300 melons.
Source:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20080607a2.html
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