Premium watermelon auctioned for nearly $3,000

でんすけすいか１玉３５万円 札幌、旭川で初競り
A premium watermelon from Hokkaido, northern Japan, has fetched a price of more than 2,800 dollars in this year's first auction for the fruit.84 Densuke watermelons were on the block at a wholesale market in Asahikawa City on Friday.

The fruit, from the town of Toma, is famous for its black skin and sweet taste. Farmers ship only the melons that meet certain standards, including high sugar content.The highest price was 350,000 yen, or about 2,800 dollars, the same as in last year's first auction. Most of the others went for around 40 dollars.