A black watermelon from the town of Toma, on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, reached a few days ago the price of 500,000 yen, about 4,120 euros, in the first auction of this agricultural season in Japan, as reported by the local agency Kyodo
The fruit, of the variety "Densuke" and much appreciated for its shiny black skin and its crispy texture, was sold in 2008 the Asahikawa (Hokkaido) market for an amount close to its record price, 650,000 yen, 5,431 euros .
A total of 260 watermelons of this variety went to auction this week in the aforementioned market and it is expected that during the season some 70,000 will be sold at an estimated price of 5,000 yen per unit (41 euros), said the local agricultural cooperative.
So, the person who has purchased this black watermelon for 4,120 euros, sure that has tasted the fruit to perfection.
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Its origin, weight and curious facts:
It is consumed like any other fruit, it does not need any special care. It has a black, thick and smooth shell with a strikingly red interior, very juicy and very sweet and is usually sold in a special box, also black, to highlight its natural color and only about 65 units are collected in the first harvest of the season.
They selected it in the mid-80s of the last century to compensate for the losses suffered by the country to reduce rice harvests.
According to a local farmers' association, the name of the fruit is composed of hieroglyphs meaning "rice field" and "aid".
Watermelon usually weighs 5 to 7 kilograms.
Generally, after the auction of the first Densuke watermelons, the rest of the production is sold at an average of 190 euros, which is also an excessive price for fruit, nothing to do with the price of watermelons in the Spanish market. The auctions are usually held in the central market of wholesalers located in the city of Sapporo, usually tend to bid the wealthiest or chains and shopping centers that expose it as a symbol of the beginning of summer and its summer fruit campaign. This year was the 30th anniversary of the production of this variety, but despite the celebration, the previous auction figures have not been reached.
Curiously, the history of this variety of watermelon is relatively young, its production began in 1984 on the island, five years later the brand was registered in the country's patent office and competitions between producers began to see who could obtain the perfect watermelon, which is why it will be part of the contest in which the 'Japanese Agriculture Prize' is awarded, as a way of promoting and promoting work and quality production.
The Watermelon Densuke Black does not have a special conservation once acquired, in fact it is maintained in the same way as the rest of the varieties. Its black and linear crust appears as the first step before reaching the good, a succulent delicacy with nuggets that delights those who acquire one.
What we can find in other places are seeds to test their cultivation. More and more farmers and amateurs are encouraged to take out of their own hand this exclusive watermelon, with more and more gastronomic adepts. By internet it is usually the most usual way to get them.
We also have:
Hiroichi Kimura, a Kumamoto producer also in Japan has developed and cultivated the first heart-shaped watermelon that is being sold in Japanese supermarkets at $ 160 USD per piece.
According to an article published by RocketNews, the producer and his wife were working for three years in the development of the fruit, which symbolizes the love and mutual respect they have.
Production diversification;
The curiosity and determination to create a heart-shaped watermelon was inspired by the suggestion of a neighbor, who commented that it would be interesting if there was a watermelon in the shape of a heart. Kimura, began to investigate the possibilities and ways to carry out the project.
Through books and manuals, Kimura was instructed in the different techniques of fruit growth, the ideal production methods, the necessary atmospheric and soil conditions, as well as the humidity levels for the proper development of their melons. Additionally, he developed a mold in the shape of a heart, where the fruit would later grow (it is a good gift of valentines)
Read more:
www.estabueno.com.ar/sabias-que-se-venden-sandias-con-forma-rectangular/
es.wikihow.com/cortar-una-sand%C3%ADa