Japanese Grapes Sell For $26...Per Grape!

Japanese consumers love to pay high prices for high-end fruit. Their square watermelons go for about $100; musk melons go for about $70; and strawberries are about $2 each. Now a new premium fruit on the block is about to hit Japanese shelves.

Under development since 1994, bunches of the new Ruby Roman variety grapes sold for as high as $910 at a Japanese auction. The top-priced bunch had 35 grapes.

"Fruit is generally expensive in Japan, and people often buy grapes, peaches and melons as luxury gifts. Japanese are often willing to pay top prices for high-end fruits, especially for the prestige of owning the very first ones of the year."

While it could be months (or never) before you see Ruby Roman grapes at your local supermarket--if you're itching to over-pay for fruit you could aways visit your local Whole Foods.

Too easy?

Read more about these gilded grapes at MSNBC.com.

--Spanno