In 2022, juicy strawberries from Oishii are showcased in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Vox Media via CNN Newsource)
In New York, picture this: you've got $400 to spend on a lavish dining experience. You could go for top-notch caviar, fine wine, or a fancy meal at a high-class restaurant. Or, you could splurge it all on one single pineapple.
This isn't just any pineapple; it's the Rubyglow. It's special because of its red skin and sweet taste. Del Monte, a big fruit seller, spent fifteen years crafting it. Initially available in China, now it's hitting the US, sold by Melissa's Produce for an eye-watering price.
You might wonder why anyone would buy a super-expensive fruit, especially when grocery costs are soaring and wallets are feeling light. Despite worries about money and job security, there's still a market for fancy fruit like the Rubyglow.
Americans are getting curious about unique fruits. They're willing to pay extra for things like Honeycrisp apples, Cotton Candy grapes, Sumo Citrus, and fancy Japanese strawberries. But a $400 pineapple? That seems a bit over-the-top.
The journey to selling pricey produce hasn't been easy. Take the Honeycrisp apple, for example. It wasn't too long ago that we only had a few apple choices in stores. But then came Honeycrisp, with its sweet crunchiness, and people went crazy for it. That success showed fruit growers that taking risks on new varieties could pay off.
Other specialty fruits have followed suit. Cotton Candy grapes and Sumo Citrus have gained a huge fan base. Even strawberries have joined the luxury fruit club, with Oishii's indoor-grown berries starting at $50 for a pack of eight.
Now, Del Monte is joining the premium fruit game with its Rubyglow pineapple. Sure, it's expensive, but it's not just about the taste. It's a status symbol, a way to show off. And some folks are willing to pay for that.
So, is it worth it? Well, according to some food influencers, the Rubyglow is indeed tasty, with none of that bitter aftertaste you sometimes get with regular pineapple. But $400? That's a bit steep for fruit, even if it does make a fancy centrepiece for your holiday table.
