2 Hokkaido melons auctioned for 1.5 million yen

A pair of premium melons from Hokkaido, northern Japan, has fetched a price of 1.5 million yen, or about 12,500 dollars, in this year's first auction for the fruit. They were among 42 Yubari brand melons auctioned at a wholesale market in Sapporo City on Friday. The melons are grown by farmers in Yubari City.

An association of Yubari melon farmers said this year's melons taste sweet thanks to good weather after a period of cold temperatures that slightly retarded their growth.

Yubari melons at the season's first auctions for the last 10 years have fetched an average price of about 1.4 million yen, or about 11,700 dollars, for a pair.

A wholesaler who made the winning bid said the fruits will be sold to a supermarket in Niigata.

高級果物として人気がある北海道夕張市の特産品、夕張メロンの初競りが２２日、札幌市­中央卸売市場であり、２個１５０万円の最高値が付いた。昨年よりは１００万円安いが、­過去１０年で４番目という。競り落としたのは一昨年と同じ札幌市の果物卸会社「蔵重商­店」で、その最高値のメロンは新潟市のスーパー「清水フードセンター」で展示される予­定という。