Square watermelons were intended to fit more compactly in refrigerators and to be more easily cut because they don’t roll. They were invented by graphic designer Tomoyuki Ono in 1978 when she presented the watermelons in a gallery in Tokyo. She also applied for and received a patent in the United States. The melons are grown in boxes and assume the shape of the container. They tend to appeal to wealthy and fashionable consumers because they cost anywhere from 2-3 times the cost of a normal watermelon. Although square melons were originally created with practicality in mind, the cost has become prohibitive. The cube shape of the watermelon can only be achieved at the expense of its contents. To retain the proper shape, square melons must be harvested before they’re ripe, rendering them inedible. So, if you have an extra $200 you don’t know what to do with and don’t mind eating something that has virtually no taste, pick up a square watermelon. By the way, unless you live in Japan, the ticket to get there will add another $700-$1,000 to the cost of that melon.
