We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more.

  1. Lifestyle
  2. Places to Travel

Two Cantaloupes Sold for $27,000 in Japan

Published: May 27, 2016 1 min read
JAPAN-AGRICULTURE-FOOD-MELON-OFFBEAT
A single pair of Yubari melons.
JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

A pair of Yubari melons—a type of cantaloupe—went for 3 million yen, or $27,295 dollars, at the first auction of the season in Sapporo, Japan, Thursday.

A status symbol in Japan often given as gifts to friends and colleagues to denote prestige, Yubari melons often go for a high price at the annual auction, but this years set a new record of double the price last year, Japan Today reports.

The most prized Yubari melons are perfect spheres with an extremely smooth rind and a T-shaped stalk left attached for aesthetic purposes.