And as the luxury goods industry has grown, so too has the interest in luxury fruit, said Soyeon Shim, a scholar of consumer and financial behaviour at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Pinkglow pineapple, grown in Costa Rica, was genetically engineered by Fresh Del Monte for its candy-pink flesh and low acidity. Neither the Pinkglow nor the Rubyglow, both sold by Melissa’s Produce, come with their crowns, which can be used to grow more pineapples. Social media influencers have also helped introduce luxury produce to a global market, she added. Ikigai, the luxury fruit importer, sells a variety of red, pink and white strawberries imported from Japan in boxes ranging from US$89 to US$780.

Source: International New York Times July 01, 2024 15:35 UTC