HOKKAIDO, May 27 — This year’s first auction of Yubari premium melons grown in the city of Yubari in Hokkaido was held on May 26 at the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market in Sapporo.
A total of 401 cases containing some 800 melons were put on sale, and a company selling local specialties in the Hokkaido city of Otaru made the highest winning bid for a pair of melons at 1 million yen. The highest bid was 2 million yen less than last year.
Yubari melons, characterized by their orange-colored flesh low in fiber, have proven popular for their soft and juicy texture.
The melons boast a high brand power, having been among the first to be registered under the agriculture ministry’s Geographical Indication (GI) protection system that identifies farm produce with specific geographical origins and established characteristics.
The shipments of Yubari melons dropped this year compared with last year when growers enjoyed a good harvest.
Due to insufficient sunshine in April, this year’s melons tend to be smaller than usual, but growers say their quality and sugar content are not affected.
According to JA Yubarishi, a local agricultural cooperative, 85 farms cultivate the melons on land totaling 154 hectares, and the total sales is estimated to reach 1.978 billion yen.
“Because temperature fluctuations were large, the melons have become sweet and aromatic,” said a JA Yubarishi official. “We hope many people will enjoy the fruit.”
A pair of Yubari melons sold for 1 million yen in Sapporo PHOTO COURTESY OF JA YUBARISHI