Melons

[DRK]

To include watermelons and cantaloupes...what's the deal with them? I heard they are extremely expensive in Japan, although they are supposed to have incredible flavor.

Has anyone in Japan ever considered buying melons from someone in the U.S. and reselling them? Granted, the flavor would be less, but the selling price could be less too, while still making a huge profit because of buying them from America at a price that next-to-nothing.

Anybody from Japan ever consider this?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Nothing is simple anymore.

With the sky high price of fuels, shipping by plane or boat would add to their cost. Then there are almost always strict import laws on food products. Probably the growers of fruit inside Japan would have protection from cheap imports or would demand it. My guess would be that for a number of reasons, your idea would be blocked.

Uncle Frank

:?

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

A cheap melon is already imported from U.S.A. and Mexico.
A high-quality melon is exported from Japan.

 

[Glenski]

Yes, they are expensive.
Taste? Good but I wouldn't say incredible. Just like home. Of course, the Japanese will tell you they are incredible.

 

[Ashikaga]

Of course, the Japanese will tell you they are incredible.

OK, fine. I'll say it. They ARE incredible.

 

[DRK]

With the sky high price of fuels, shipping by plane or boat would add to their cost.

But no where near enough to equal the cost of the final sale that is the typical price in Japan.

Then there are almost always strict import laws on food products. Probably the growers of fruit inside Japan would have protection from cheap imports or would demand it.

This could be an issue, but not an issue that couldn't be worked out.

My guess would be that for a number of reasons, your idea would be blocked.

Only when people try their darndest to find reasons to make it not work, instead of trying to find reasons to make it work.

A cheap melon is already imported from U.S.A. and Mexico.

I did not know that. If that is the case, how come I never hear of "cheap melons" in Japan? I only hear of melons that cost between $100-$600 dollars?

 

[becki_kanou]

I did not know that. If that is the case, how come I never hear of "cheap melons" in Japan? I only hear of melons that cost between $100-$600 dollars?

Have you actually ever been to Japan? While it's possible to find the $100 melons you mentioned these are luxury items meant to be given as gifts to show status not fruit that people eat on a daily basis.

Most supermarket melons are about $10, certainly expensive when compared with the US, but probably not enough of a price difference to make a killing when you factor in shipping, taxes etc.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

It is explained in this site,
About a procedure to do import of a melon to Japan.
http://www.jetro.go.jp/world/japan/qa/importproduct_01/04M-010718

By the way,
Yesterday,
The melon which I bought in a supermarket was about 6 dollars.

 

[JimmySeal]

I did not know that. If that is the case, how come I never hear of "cheap melons" in Japan? I only hear of melons that cost between $100-$600 dollars?

Wow. ☝

For the same reason you don't see middle class white people getting speeding tickets on COPS.

 

[DRK]

Have you actually ever been to Japan?

No, that would be why I am asking the question I asked.

While it's possible to find the $100 melons you mentioned these are luxury items meant to be given as gifts to show status not fruit that people eat on a daily basis.
Most supermarket melons are about $10, certainly expensive when compared with the US, but probably not enough of a price difference to make a killing when you factor in shipping, taxes etc.

That's good to know. I had no idea such non-luxury melons existed in Japan.

Wow. ☝
For the same reason you don't see middle class white people getting speeding tickets on COPS.

What reason would that be?

 

[DRK]

It is explained in this site...

Thanks for the link, but I don't know Japanese.

 

[becki_kanou]

What reason would that be?

Because it's not sensational. Who wants to read about $6 supermarket melons?