Premium black watermelon auctioned in Japan for $6,100.

Black Japanese watermelon sold at record price

In a society where melons are a luxury item commonly given as gifts, the watermelon's hefty price tag followed another jaw-dropping auction last month, when a pair of "Yubari" cantaloupe melons sold for a record $23,500.

The 17-pound, black-skinned "Densuke" watermelon, a variety grown only on the northern island of Hokkaido, was purchased Friday by a marine products dealer who said he wanted to support local agriculture, according to Kyodo News agency.

...

Most retail at department stores and supermarkets for a more modest $188 to $283, Ohira said.

...

Obviously, I am wasting the space in my garden plot!

Hi,

In my other life, I knew a Soviet woman who was dating a Japanese businessman. She worked in a hotel service bureau and lived in a communal apartment. While her friends at work understood her situation. She had to be very discrete with her apartment neighbors.

Initially she brought her boyfriend home explaining to the neighbors he was from Uzbekistan, which has an Asian population. They became suspicious of this man because he never brought her any melons, which Uzbekistan is known for producing. She solved this thereafter by purchasing watermelons at the farmer's market, then handing them off to her boyfriend. He gave every neighbor in the apartment a melon and lifted any suspicion about who he may be. Her co-workers at the service bureau laughed themselves to tears retelling this story.

Cathy,

A great story. Since the weather's nice and we're talking watermelons, I'll point out that you can do a little better than $6,100 right around here at Baylor's.

Baylor's Remote Outpost


I wonder if they're open yet. I sure don't want to have to go all the way to Russia for a decent melon.

Baylor’s Melon Market
10100 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL
No phone

There's usually a guy with a truckload of melons that looks like the same deal as Baylor's. He parks on the east of Grant St. just north of the Borman in Gary. Does anyone know if it's the same crew?

They also have square watermelons in Japan:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1390088.stm

Cogito wrote:There's usually a guy with a truckload of melons that looks like the same deal as Baylor's. He parks on the east of Grant St. just north of the Borman in Gary. Does anyone know if it's the same crew?

You'll have to ask. I have seen Baylor watermelons being sold out of a car trunk in Kenosha-Racine area. They were white, which gave me pause if they were the real deal. When I asked at HQ they advised they are relatives.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:I have seen Baylor watermelons being sold out of a car trunk in Kenosha-Racine area. They were white, which gave me pause if they were the real deal.

White watermelons?

I am pretty sure we got some of the white seeds in a couple varities from Victory Seed Company this year.

I have not heard of the Black ones. Does anyone know of a seed supplier for them?