The price of melons varies widely depending on variety, season, and production location. At Ceagesp in São Paulo, Brazil, considered the largest public food company in South America, yellow melons were sold for R$4.12 (US$0.75) per kilo on August 20. In contrast, in Japan, two Yubari King melons sold at auction in May for 1 million yen (US$6,200), making them among the most expensive melons globally.
Produced by the Yubari Melon Association in Hokkaido, northern Japan, the Yubari King melon has become a luxury product, linked to limited cultivation, tradition, and careful production practices.
© Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
The variety is a hybrid of Earl's Favorite and Burpee's Spicy Cantaloupe. According to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Yubari King melons benefit from unique local growing conditions. The volcanic ash soils offer good drainage, while the mountainous terrain causes large temperature variations compared to other cantaloupe-producing regions in Japan.
These conditions, combined with the producers' long-term technical expertise, contribute to the fruit's well-known appearance and quality. The rind develops a net-like structure, considered one of its most distinctive characteristics.
"Extracting the best quality depends not only on the aforementioned geographical elements, but also on the producer's knowledge, accumulated over many years. Yubari King's cultivation and research techniques are used in cultivating the fields and in the delicate control of soil temperature and moisture, essential for forming the melon's 'network' and increasing its size," stated the Japanese organization.
The contrast in price between melons sold in Brazil and the Yubari King highlights how cultivation practices, environmental conditions, and market perception can impact value across different regions.
Source: Abrafrutas