The first mangoes of the season have gone on sale in Japan, with the first box of two fetching a wholesale price of Y200,000 (US$2,144), the Japan Times reported.
The deal for the red mangoes, which were grown in the Miyazaki Prefecture and are known as the ‘egg of the sun', was made on Monday morning after bidding commenced at 7am in Miyazaki's central wholesale market.
"I was worried the price might go down because of the recession, but we producers are happy because they fetched high prices," said Yasukazu Matsuda, a member of a local fruit growers association.
"I hope the ‘egg of the sun' will help trigger growth of the agricultural industry in the prefecture," Mr Matsuda said.
Miyazaki mangoes are shipped only after they weigh at least 350 grams, and the sugar concentration exceeds 15 per cent.
This year's harvest has been accelerated, with Miyazaki mangoes being shipped 15 days earlier than last season.
