Weird-News: Japan's $5,000 Melons

[arniejolt]

It's tough seeing that hard economic times have even affected the most trivially expensive items...

The latest victim of Japan's recession is round, sweet and famous for being shockingly expensive.

The first two Yubari melons of the season were auctioned Friday in northern Japan and fetched $5,200. Pricey? Certainly. But it's practically a steal if you consider last year's winning bid — a record 2.5 million yen, or about $26,000. In 2007 they sold for about $20,000.

It appears the world's swankiest melon is in a major deflationary slump.

Weighing about eight pounds, the premium cantaloupes were part of the season's initial harvest at Sapporo Central Wholesale Market. Every year buyers flock to the market for a shot at the prestige of winning the very first melons of the year.

The orange-fleshed melons are grown only in the city of Yubari, a small town on the northern island of Hokkaido. Valued for their perfect proportions and taste, they are typically given as gifts by Japanese during the summer.

The other melons at the first auction aren't quite as expensive, but even those tumbled in price this year. The average price Friday of 84 melons was about $400, down from $630 last year, according to the Sankei newspaper.

Image problem?
Department stores and high-end retailers sell the fruit to the public for $50 to $100, though prices can run much higher depending on quality.

Yubari official Kaoru Hirano says the dramatic drop in this year's winning bid is actually good for the financially strapped city, which needs its melon industry to buck the recession.

"I think last year was highly unusual," Hirano said. "Such a high price gave the melons a bit of an image problem. Everyone began to think that they were just too expensive, and this hurt the average retailer."

From MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30765572/

[bood-boy]

inb4zeleii

[jayou521]

I want to know what $5,000 cantaloupe tastes like.... I love cantaloupe

[kiggidykev]

I thought you had to get plastic surgery for $5000 melons

Ha cha cha

[Zeleii]

I thought you had to get plastic surgery for $5000 melons

Ha cha cha

ZING

Oh yeah.... yeah, it's ridiculous. I've heard of these before, why do people act surprised? I mean just about every market OUTSIDE the arms industry is receding

/cry

[NormanCoxwell]

You I'd probably prefer to get a melon than a diamond anyway. Never really liked shiny stones but melons? Delicious.

[Zeleii]

You I'd probably prefer to get a melon than a diamond anyway. Never really liked shiny stones but melons? Delicious.

This xD

[kiggidykev]

Engagement Melons has a nice ring to it