Friday, 15 June, 2001, 10:54 GMT 11:54 UK
They look clever, but not all shoppers like the price tagJapan has again shown off one of its greatest innovations - square watermelons.
For years consumers struggled to fit the large round fruit in their refrigerators.
The round watermelon is unlikely to go out of favour.
For years consumers struggled to fit the large round fruit in their refrigerators.
The round watermelon is unlikely to go out of favour.
And then there was the problem of trying to cut the fruit when it kept rolling around.
But 20 years ago a forward-thinking farmer on Japan's south-western island of Shikoku solved the problem.
The farmer, from Zentsuji in Kagawa prefecture, came up with the idea of making a cube-shaped watermelon which could easily be packed and stored.
To make it happen, farmers grew the melons in glass boxes and the fruit then naturally assumed the same shape. Today the cuboid watermelons are hand-picked and shipped all over Japan.
But the fruit, on sale in a selection of department stores and upmarket supermarkets, appeals mainly to the wealthy and fashion-conscious of Tokyo and Osaka, Japan's two major cities.
Each melon sells for 10,000 yen, equivalent to about $83. It is almost double, or even triple, that of a normal watermelon.
"I can't buy it, it is too expensive," said a woman browsing at a department store in the southern city of Takamatsu.
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Hollie...have you seen these? I remember this story from a long time ago. I love watermelon!
3 comments:
OMG! No, I have to find one! I wonder if they are only on that island. I have to go find one, for a picture. They are awesome. I wonder how they get that way.
That is so crazy! And 83 bucks! Wow! Watermelon is usually eaten in one day at our home...I can't imagine trying to budget 83 a week on watermelon. What kind of job do you think you have when you don't mind spending $83 on watermelon?
$83 is outrageous! I get mad when I have to pay $4.95!
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