In Japan, Snow White strawberries (or white strawberries) are a rare and luxurious fruit, called the Shirou Houseki variety and have a selling price of up to about 10 USD/fruit.
Snow White strawberries were developed over many years, carefully bred by a group of Japanese farmers who wanted to create a new type of strawberry with a sweeter and more delicate flavor. As a result, they bred a strawberry variety with creamy white flesh and a soft, succulent texture, considered sweeter than regular red strawberries.
- The difference of Japanese Snow White strawberries
The difference lies in the way it is planted, and of course the size. White strawberries were created by Yasuhito Teshima, who focused on breeding strawberries until white strawberries could be created.
The strawberry breeding process is very complex, including selecting and cross-breeding different strawberry varieties to produce new varieties with certain characteristics.
For white strawberries, Yasuhito Teshima started by crossing a white-fruited strawberry variety from Chile with a red-fruited strawberry variety from Japan. He carefully selects the best plants and continues to breed them to achieve desirable characteristics, such as creamy white color and sweet, delicate flavor.
To achieve the distinct white strawberries, Yasuhito Teshima shielded the plants from direct sunlight with a special mulch. This allows control of the amount of sunlight the strawberries receive and produces the desired color change.
Over time, Yasuhito Teshima was able to perfect his breeding techniques and develop a white strawberry variety that was not only beautiful and delicious but also sturdy yet resilient.
Today, the Japanese white strawberry is considered a rare delicacy, prized for its unique appearance and sweet, delicate flavor. They are often grown in small quantities, sold at expensive prices in specialty markets and luxury fruit stores; At the same time, they are often given as gifts on special occasions, such as weddings or holidays.
- The reason why Snow White strawberries are expensive
Japanese white strawberries can cost over $10 each. Sometimes, a box of 8 can cost $150. Below are other reasons why they are extremely expensive.
Rarity: Japanese white strawberries are relatively rare compared to other strawberry varieties because they are difficult to grow and require specific conditions to grow. This makes them an exclusive product, driving up prices.
Manual Cultivation: Growing Japanese white strawberries requires a lot of care and attention. Farmers must carefully control temperature, humidity, and light to grow. This requires a lot of labor and resources, increasing production costs.
High demand: Japanese white strawberries are in high demand, especially among consumers willing to pay a premium for the luxury fruit.
Quality: Japanese white strawberries are known for their high quality, which is reflected in their taste and appearance. Strawberries are often carefully picked and carefully selected for perfect ripeness and texture, which adds to their value.
Gift culture: In Japan, gift giving is an important cultural custom, especially on special occasions such as weddings and birthdays. Japanese white strawberries are often given as gifts, which adds to their perceived value and drives up their prices.
