Monday, January 10, 2011

The Big Apple in Okinawa (Photo) Plus a Conspiracy Theory

Yesterday, even though I was in a good mood after recovering some long lost and much needed wedding photos,  I went and ranted on a few social networks about the cost of apples in Japan.
It all started when I saw these Bushel Baskets full of apples, somewhere in Ontario, Canada.


When I saw all those apples it reminded me of how much I used to love eating them. See, I did some apple picking back in the old days. There's nothing tastier than an apple picked right off the tree unless, maybe you want to wash it and chill it in the fridge for a little while. But, I kinda liked eating them while I was supposed to be picking up in the tree, where nobody could see me. Things always seem to taste even better when they're free. Fringe benefits, I guess you could call it.

Now, in Japan one good-sized apple costs somewhere in the neighborhood of around US $3.00, that's criminal if you ask me. I wouldn't think of stealing one and I refuse to pay that kind of money for an apple. 

It's some sort of a conspiracy.  The MAC Computer guys may even be involved in it. I don't know who's behind this one. That gal, Eve who got Adam kicked outa the garden, still dead, right?
 
I'm not sure why anybody would want to charge outrageous prices for a fruit that'll just rot if they don't sell it but, I ain't fallin' for it. I've been boycotting them for years. If I find myself unable to contain the urge to eat apples, I'll plant a tree and grab my own fruit off it whenever I feel like.

This morning I got mail from Australia. Since the flooding down there, they have to pay twice as much as I would for an apple in Japan. Over $6.00 for a freakin' fresh apple; it's a conspiracy !

When I decided to rant about the cost of apples, and what I now believe to be a worldwide conspiracy, I ran across the street to the grocery store. Even took ten bucks outa the till and was gonna buy an apple, take a picture of it and post it here, so you could see the price tag.

Well, I'm showing you the Big Apple in Okinawa, instead. It's the only photo I have right now.

The gal tending the little Mom and Pop grocery store didn't have any red apples. There was a bag with three little green apples on the shelf. They were smaller than the size of a tennis ball.  I figured, what the heck, I have ten bucks, I'll see if it's enough to buy the whole bag of them.

There wasn't a price on the bag. So, I ask the gal "How much are these apples?"  She didn't know.  The truck that delivers the fruit and vegetables would be arriving shortly.  If I'd come back later we would know how much the apples cost today. So, you get the Big Apple in Okinawa.

The last time I checked, apple farmers and pickers weren't getting filthy rich and riding around in stretch limos, Eve was dead and gone and the price of apples just keeps rising. CONSPIRACY!



6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hmmm... I remember a few years ago we went up to a small town in Hokkaido called Mashike where they grow some deee-licious apples, and were able to pick our own. Great experience (and yes, there's nothing like sampling apples as you pick). My parents-in-law try to go up every year... they make for excellent gifts for friends and family. I don't normally self promote but check out here, for a post on Mashike.

By the way - not sure where you were getting correspondence from in Australia, but here in Adelaide, we're still paying about $4-5 per kg... so unless there one helluva big apples, I'm a little shocked that anyone would be paying that price. Having said that, we're living in South Australia, so I can't say what others are paying in poor flood ravaged Queensland for example.

RyukyuMike said...

AdelaideBen,
Being the cautious old codger I am, I looked at your link. I liked it so, you're good to go, here.
Then, I went and Stumbled/Tweeted/Pingd&Facebooked it for ya. Hope you don't mind a few extra readers !

Unknown said...

Thanks Mike, appreciate the first part "I like it so" most of all. To be honest, my Japanese Ties is a mostly self-indulgent exercise of expressing my own joy of going to Japan (if coming together slowly)... my other blog (Raising Adelaide) is a completely self-indulgent exercise in enjoying my own photographs (largely of my son) and thoughts.

I laugh I get 0.75 readers (but the truth is, I don't get many more).... still, the good thing about self-indulgence is that it takes a grand total of 1 person - the ingulgor - to enjoy.

Welcome on board.

RyukyuMike said...

AdelaideBen,
Well, I enjoy the folks and friends I've made, around the globe, since I started blogging. Even without having to travel the world, I'm learning new things from people in different cultures. It's a blast and I'm glad I met you this way, too !

Nancie said...

That's outrageous! In Korea I can get a bag of about 10 for $5.00.

RyukyuMike said...

I'm tellin' ya it's a conspiracy. If postage to Japan wasn't so outrageous, I'd ask you to mail me some!