WHY IS THIS BUNCH OF GRAPES WORTH 11K?

A bunch of Ruby Roman grapes sold for a record £1.1m yen ($11,000) at auction in Japan this week, The Guardian reports. The bunch contained roughly 30 grapes, meaning each grape was worth around $350.

While this may sound extravagant, fruit, especially seasonal fruit is held in high regard in Japan and is often given as a gift or seen as a status symbol (as is the case with the Ruby Roman). Melon is the most prized of fruits and you may remember this perfect matching pair of king melons, which sold for a staggering $26,000.

Winning bidder Takamaru Konishi, a premium fruits buyer, said he would be offering customers a taste of the grapes at his supermarket in Hyogo prefecture.

The Ruby Roman grape, which is prized for its sweetness, was originally cultivated from the Fujiminori grape and was introduced in 2008. They are grown exclusively in Ishikawa Prefecture on the west coast of Honshu island. Each grape is roughly the size of a ping–pong ball and must weigh at least 20g. The Ruby Roman is a table grape, meaning they are meant to be eaten fresh and are not used in wine production.

Source: The Guardian