A Picture is Worth...Square Watermelons
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 08.28.08
Here's an Internet oldie but goodie shipped directly from Japan. Don't worry, anti-GMO types, these watermelons didn't have their DNA tinkered in any way—they derive their unique cuboid shape from the tempered glass boxes the farmers grow them in.
While they may appear little more than novelties, square watermelons serve a more practical purpose: They save space during packing and storage, for one, which means less fuel can be used during transport. Plus, watermelon lovers can slot them neatly into their refrigerators without too much hassle.
Just one caveat: Each melon will set you back 10,000 yen, or about US$83, a price that is almost 10 times that of a regular ball-shaped watermelon.
More strange produce
Oddly Shaped Vegetables Allowed in Europe
Ugly Fruit Movement Could Help Organic Farmers
Eat Your Food with Vegetables: Biodegradable Cutlery from Vegware
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Transition Town Training - Coming to a Continent Near You
- A Picture is Worth... A Nano Close-Up of the Animal Kingdom
- Is Organic Farming Good For Africa or Not?
- Make Cars Green: Too Little Too Late?
Paolo Soleri is Hot Again
|
Is the Sky Falling? Diddy Ditches Private Jet for “Coach” Due to High Fuel Prices
|
So, not to be a negative nancy, but couldn't you just cut your plain jane round watermellon however you want, to make it fit where you want in the fridge you want?
Moreover, unless you pickle the rinds or need a certain presentation for a catering / party situation what is to prevent you from scooping the melon out into watermellon balls for easy snacking?
Just NOT worth the extra time/labor/cost input imho.
D from AL,
You're being a negative nancy. There's nothing wrong with this. Why complain?
I'm sure the time/labor/cost is woth it to the farmer that's getting 10X the price for an othewise ordinary watermelon. The buyers probably are caterers, restaurants, etc that are using their novel shape for presentation and are willing to pay the additional price.
As for cutting it to fit, even refrigerated, once you cut it, the shelf life is severly shortened, so you shouldn't cut it until just before serving. If by AL, you mean Alabama, you should know that.
They are novelty fruit, people will pay extra for them just so they can tell friends/family, etc they ate a square watermelon ( or ate a square watermelon again this year )
Stores order them as partially as publicity, and it does bring people into the stores - younger children almost always want to see the square watermelons.
A classic. I thought these were creepy as heck until I found out they were non-GMO. I love them!
But they use one glass jar for every watermellon.. and every time they want to take the watermellon out, they have to break the jar! So i dont understand why Treehugger is writing about such unsustanable "invention"..
I believe that hinged plastic boxes can also be used to grow the square watermelons.