Japanese Grape Cluster Sold For $2,250!
Last year, a cluster of Ruby Roman grapes sold for $900 US dollars. If you are among those who think that was ridiculous, you won’t believe this year’s first bunch which were auctioned off for an astounding 210,000 yen or $2,250!
Fruit is an expensive commodity in Japan and is considered a gift of great luxury. The wealthy consider it a sign of prestige to pay exorbitant prices for high-end fruits, especially the very first ones of the year.
The Ruby Roman is a variety of table grape, which is red in color and about the size of a ping-pong ball. Its one unusual feature appears to be the price it fetches.
A bracelet from Tiffany’s or something of that ilk for the same amount of cold hard cash would certainly last a lot longer than a cluster of grapes, one would think, but then there’s no accounting for taste when “keeping up with the Jones family” takes its own particular hold on one’s thinking.
Local farmers are hoping to sell 1,500 bunches, the equivalent of one ton of grapes by mid-September. Just do the math on that one, if you dare!
A Japanese hotel manager did dare to do the math and paid what comes out to be about $70 dollars per grape for a one-and-one-half pound of Ruby Roman grapes.
He hopes that the publicity surrounding the auction and his purchase will attract even more guests to his upscale hotel. Can you imagine what he will charge them for just a taste of one of these? (And he better hurry. No one likes sour grapes at any cost!)
“We believe the price was probably a record high. They’re delicious, sweet but fresh at the same time, very well balanced,” said local agricultural official, Hirofumi Isu.
What do YOU think about this?
(Link)
By MDeeDubroff on 21-07-2009
Comment by Kort
July 21st, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Bet they make great raisins.
Comment by pacat
July 21st, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Gadzeeks!!!! I have some wonder bananas I will sell for only $75.00 each,grown on high end , natural palm trees.Very nice and cheap to the right buyer.
Comment by acidchalk
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
lol the guy at the end of the video looked weird as hell lol
Comment by Loud Shirt Chip
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Somebody tell me what I'm missing here… I know they're nicely packaged which is important in Japan, but why is someone unable/unwilling to just import some of the same kind from somewhere else in the world where it would be much cheaper? (They could 'package' it up just as nice themselves).
http://www.BestLoudShirts.com
Comment by pacat
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:39 am
That is not the point.Some of these people have too much money and too few brain cells.Kind of the Japaneese way of one I got something you can't afford.In other words,"Nanny, Nanny Boo,Boo.
Comment by a japanese
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
First, The grape "The Ruby Roman" is not a common grape. It took about 14 years to develop it, and it is very rare still .The grape is "red" and very large but easy to eat, very juicy. It is special.
Of course we can import same quality, same safety, cheaper grapes (I don't know whether it exist or not in the world), but when we exchange presents, we have tendency to select expensive domestic goods.
Comment by pacat
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I am not trying to cut any one down,but you must admit that when that in sometimes people have too much money and carry the craving for the most expensive items to the extreme.I suppose this comes with being too bored with life.