Pair of Japanese melons fetch $15,730 at auction

[TechMan]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/05/29/pair-japanese-melons-fetch-15730-at-auction/?test=latestnews

Alright minds out of the gutter, it was a pair of Yubari cantaloupes.  Since fruit is scarce in Japan, the Yubari cantaloupes are considered a status symbol, much like a fine wine or scotch.  According to the article a pack of 20 cherries retails for $100. 

[Ben]

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/05/29/pair-japanese-melons-fetch-15730-at-auction/?test=latestnews

Alright minds out of the gutter,

Okay.

[French G.]

They look ripe, but only one way to find out.

[Sawdust]

Thump 'em?

Sawdust

[cordex]

I wonder what kind of regulatory nightmare creates a situation that prevents people from capitalizing on the price of fruit and providing a low-cost alternative.  Heck, for some fruits a cottage hydroponics industry might be very profitable, so I have to assume there are other factors at play.  Agricultural protectionism?  Strict commercial food testing and production requirements?

[AZRedhawk44]

I wonder what kind of regulatory nightmare creates a situation that prevents people from capitalizing on the price of fruit and providing a low-cost alternative.  Heck, for some fruits a cottage hydroponics industry might be very profitable, so I have to assume there are other factors at play.  Agricultural protectionism?  Strict commercial food testing and production requirements?

Bingo.

Japan prohibits rice imports, entirely.  Or, at least, they did back when I was studying East Asian economic systems.  Highly protective of their agricultural industry.  Huge tariffs on other imports, too.

The social fabric of Japan doesn't lend itself to black market piracy like America does.  "Rat on your neighbor" is pretty well indoctrinated there, long before SCAP. 

[freakazoid]

I'll be in my bunk.

[Ben]

I'll be in my bunk.

You have no idea how difficult it was, after typing "busty Japanese" into Google, to find a non-nude picture of a busty Japanese woman. I had to pore over image after image until I found something suitable for a public forum.

[ArfinGreebly]

You have no idea how difficult it was, after typing "busty Japanese" into Google, to find a non-nude picture of a busty Japanese woman. I had to pore over image after image until I found something suitable for a public forum.

Yes.  Yes indeed.

I quite see what you mean.  (Speaking of melons . . .)

[freakazoid]

You have no idea how difficult it was, after typing "busty Japanese" into Google, to find a non-nude picture of a busty Japanese woman. I had to pore over image after image until I found something suitable for a public forum.

You poor thing.

[TechMan]

You have no idea how difficult it was, after typing "busty Japanese" into Google, to find a non-nude picture of a busty Japanese woman. I had to pore over image after image until I found something suitable for a public forum.

I acknowledge your sacrifice for the good of the forum participants (male that is).

[lee n. field]

I wonder what kind of regulatory nightmare creates a situation that prevents people from capitalizing on the price of fruit and providing a low-cost alternative.  Heck, for some fruits a cottage hydroponics industry might be very profitable, so I have to assume there are other factors at play.  Agricultural protectionism?  Strict commercial food testing and production requirements?

That's my impression from talking to my brother, who lived there for 15 years.

Farms there are, by our standards, microscopic.

I suppose you could get that Yakuza to import stuff from some nearby county.

[Balog]

That's my impression from talking to my brother, who lived there for 15 years.

Farms there are, by out standards, microscopic.

I suppose you could get that Yakuza to import stuff from some nearby county.

Black market fruit runners...

[lupinus]

You have no idea how difficult it was, after typing "busty Japanese" into Google, to find a non-nude picture of a busty Japanese woman. I had to pore over image after image until I found something suitable for a public forum.

Hard job but someones gotta do it.

[Scout26]

Blahhh, I hate cantaloupe.