Why Are Miyazaki Mangoes So Unbelievably Expensive?

This pair of mangoes just sold for 500,000 yen. That's almost 4,000 dollars. These are not just any mangoes. They are Teo no Tamago, or egg of the sun. Stunning, plump, red, perfectly unscratched, and incredibly sweet mangoes that are farmed in the Miyazaki prefecture of Japan. Every April, the best mangoes from the prefecture are auctioned off at Miyazaki Central Wholesale Market. But although farmers in Miyazaki dedicate an entire year to preparing these mangoes for auction, there's no guarantee that the fruit will fetch such a high price. That's because, before reaching the auctioning table, a mango has to be perfect, inside and out. So why are Teo no Tamago mangoes so difficult to grow? And what makes them so expensive? Mangoes farmed in Miyazaki are from the Erwin mango variety, a type often referred to as apple mango, as it turns red when ripe. Erwin mangoes are actually pretty common, and are also grown in other parts of the world and sold at much lower prices. This is because the exclusivity of Teo no Tamago is not tied to which type of mango it is, but rather to the care it receives. In order to generate buzz at the auction, a mango needs bees To increase their odds of success, farmers like Takuya usually rent bees during the flowering season. Bees are flowering mango plants. Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of the plants. As without them, mangoes would not grow as big as desired. If a plant keeps flowering as the farmer wants, it can survive as long as 35 years. Takuya's plants are 20 years old. However, even if bees do pollinate the plants, it doesn't necessarily mean that all mangoes will qualify as Teo no Tamago this season. Only those that are in good shape, visibly contain pits, and are in good position will be given a chance to successfully grow one. Everything in the greenhouse needs to run smoothly. Temperature must be constant, the room ventilated, the air dehumidified, and the mangoes protected from gravity. When everything else is in place, Takuya's priority becomes the sunshine. The sun's light hits the mangoes. And the fruit's color turns red and bright. And the sugar levels rise. If a mango slumps into the shade, Takuya will tie it with a string to bring it back up. And to make sure that sunlight touches every part of the fruit equally, he developed these reflectors out of milk cartons. It becomes horizontal. In the past, they used to recommend softer hair. But that would make it go down. So it was a bit difficult to use. No matter their worth. Takuya treats each mango with care. In return, each fruit offers a unique flavor. Sweet and tangy. Fragrant and fruity. Takuya has spent 16 years perfecting his father's craft. He grew 9,500 mangoes in his greenhouse this year. Now they face inspection to see how many earned the coveted Teo no Tamago title. The first inspection is done manually. They check for a perfect, uniform red color. Then, machines grade them by sugar, weight, and size. Five grades total, with two being Teo no Tamago. The fruit heads to the Miyazaki Wholesale Market Auction. The tireless dedication of Takuya and the local farmers. All leads to this single moment. Hoping to match or beat the 500,000 yen record. The auction has begun at the Miyazaki Central Market. The 500,000 yen bid matches the 2019 record. And the grower behind these mangoes is Takuya. His third consecutive year hitting the top auction price. They were purchased by a Fukuoka department store. Today marks another success for Takuya. But even in Japan's gift-giving culture, there is no guarantee. That such luxury fruit will sell at auction. From flowering, fruiting, harvesting, to auction. Takuya's mango trees begin a new season. And the hard work never ends. It is a demanding process. You keep working until you are fully satisfied. Having played sports, I hate to lose. I want to produce the best fruit possible. That is what matters most.