square watermelons???
By nova1945
@nova1945 (1612)
United States
April 18, 2008 8:21pm CST
A round watermelon can take up a lot of room in the refrigerator and the usually round fruit often sits awkwardly on the refrigerator shelves.
Fortunately smart Japanese farmers have forced their watermelons to grow into a square shape by inserting the melons into square, tempered glass cases while the fruit is still growing on the vine.
Sounds cool. Wonder how much they cost? I want one, how about you?
2 people like this
9 responses
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Wow I think that is pretty innovative. Your so right about them being easier to store. I am like you however and wonder how the cost is affected.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I've seen these before, very interesting stuff. I may try a square watermelon if it ever hits store shelves. It does save space since the original shape watermelon stored in a cubed space takes up air space beyond the surface. It can't stack either, though it is funny to entertain the thought of people trying it.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
18 Jun 08
It looks wonderfully unique and convenient. I wanted to try one too, but someone just said they cost $80! There are too many other places I can spend that much money...like actual groceries.
I do hope they get to our stores, and that they are not that much!
@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
19 Apr 08
Hmmm, not sure I would like to have a square watermelon. It would be good for packaging and selling etc., and easier to get into your fridge but I think I still like to see my fruit the way it was supposed to be. If this catches on can you imagine what will be next. Square oranges, lemons, tomatoes etc.
I like mine 'natural'.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
19 Apr 08
It's hard to accept changes to what we are used to, I know. But they are perfectly natural in every way except shape. They are just grown in restrictive glass frames to modify their growth.
We do the same thing with plants in our gardens. For example Wisteria, which is normally a vine. They often are trained to grow like a weeping tree.@wickedangel (1636)
• Dominican Republic
19 Apr 08
Oh I know, we do hate change don't we! I get where you are coming from, poor Mother Nature has had many things changed since we have been on this planet! Still there is something about changing the shape of our fruit that doesn't quite sit with me ... shows that we are changing things to suit our needs and just doesn't feel 'natural'. Trees, shrubs and flowers - if they are a cross breed or trained to do something beautiful (like bonsai) just doesn't feel the same. Get your drift though. Good story, thanks!
@pixelpixie (473)
• Canada
16 Jun 08
Hahaha! They look so neat.
I want one just to see how different it would be eating it.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
20 Jun 08
I'm not sure how much that is in U.S. dollars, but I think the plane ticket to Taiwan would cost more than the melon is worth. Thanks for letting me know that someone else has actually seen these beautiful melons though. I will have to wait until they come to the United States to try one.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
2 May 08
yes indeed nova that would sure save space in my fridge
with a square watermelon. wonder if they will be more
costly that the round ones. I love our mini watermelons
as they are half again as big as the ordinary ones
and one person can actually eat it up before it
spoils. they are really so good.
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
3 May 08
Yes, don't they look really neat? I love those little watermelons too. They are more expensive than the big ones, but you're right, they are much easier to finish. Since I'm the only one who eats watermelon in my house the small ones are perfect for just me.
@vianneyanzu (908)
• Philippines
16 May 08
The watermelons look very weird.. but I would love to try them!! The Japanese are really very clever people.. it's funny but if you think about it, it's a really cool innovation! They are really innovative!! I wonder when it will be available to the world...
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
16 May 08
I hope it will be available to us soon, I definitely want to try it. I guess you could try to grow it yourself if you grow watermelons. Just encase the fruit in a clear Lucite box while it is still growing and that will force it to adhere to the shape of the box. I don't know as I don't grow them but it might be worth a try.
@scaplusrevenge (56)
• United States
3 Jun 08
I've heard of this before but never actually seen it. But all I can say that it's pretty amazing how they do it. It changes nothing (except the looks), so I guess dig in?
