Japan: Strawberry grower charges $8 each
The berry is the pride of Ichigo Co. and weighs about 40 grams, or roughly an ounce and a half. For comparison, an extra-large strawberry is typically measured at 27 grams for nutritional calculations. It is roughly the size of a large egg, said the company’s Shouichi Igarashi. The company’s strawberries can only be purchased online and started shipping out to customers last week in packages of six for ¥6000, each individually wrapped.
Fruit is commonly sold as a luxury item in Japan, with farmers devoting time, care and selective breeding to create large and sweet varieties. These strawberries are particularly expensive because they are grown in temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms under LED lighting.
Since last December, Ichigo Co. has been selling smaller strawberries for ¥700 each in packages of four or 12. But this is the first time the firm has been able to produce strawberries of such a large size. Mr. Igarashi said it was too early to gauge how well the strawberries were selling but he said he has received positive reactions from customers.
Japan is no stranger to expensive and experimental approaches to fruit. Last week, a bunch of grapes sold for $8,200 at a wholesale auction in Kanazawa. The government has also supported research for advanced agriculture, and produce such as lettuce has been grown in similarly controlled environments.
Source: wsj.com
