There is a high-end market for utmost-quality, expensive food in small quantities.
Remember how Tesla started as a ridiculously expensive muscle electric car. Now they have much more affordable models, and it's increasingly hard to walk down a street a in NYC and not spot at least one Tesla. Entering a market from its most premium segment is a common strategy, before you can polish your processes, achieve economies of scale, and lower the prices.
"Making the berries more affordable was “the whole purpose” of expanding operations and focusing on efficiencies, Oishii co-founder and CEO Hiroki Koga said."
More affordable? Rather "less expensive". Affordable they are not.
Can't vouch for their taste or anything like that, but, based on the marketing, they seem to be positioning these as a high-quality species of strawberry and are also marketing it is a modern, cutting-edge alternative to standard farms. So not exactly surprised by the price, even if I do find it ridiculous and would never pay it.
I am assuming they are going for a japanese fruit pricing strategy, making, some, apparently really good fruit, for crazy high prices. (I doubt many of them are actually worth the price, but I think it is mostly a gift giving thing over there). Kinda doubt that strategy is gonna work out in america.
There was a YouTube video linked in this thread showing how there is a strong market in Japan for ultra high quality strawberries where they are seen as a small quantity special treat to celebrate a big event rather than just a mass produced food.
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US $20 for 8 strawberries?[1]. Huh? Strawberries are $4/lb at Safeway. Less if I go to a fruit stand. Of course, I'm in California.
[1] https://www.oishii.com/new-farm
Same thing with wine, cheese, steak, etc.
There is a high-end market for utmost-quality, expensive food in small quantities.
Remember how Tesla started as a ridiculously expensive muscle electric car. Now they have much more affordable models, and it's increasingly hard to walk down a street a in NYC and not spot at least one Tesla. Entering a market from its most premium segment is a common strategy, before you can polish your processes, achieve economies of scale, and lower the prices.
You left out the best part: (formerly $50).
There's even an FAQ entry that sounds like borderline satire: "How were you able to bring the price down from $50 to $20?"
I laughed at this fragment:
"Making the berries more affordable was “the whole purpose” of expanding operations and focusing on efficiencies, Oishii co-founder and CEO Hiroki Koga said."
More affordable? Rather "less expensive". Affordable they are not.
Can't vouch for their taste or anything like that, but, based on the marketing, they seem to be positioning these as a high-quality species of strawberry and are also marketing it is a modern, cutting-edge alternative to standard farms. So not exactly surprised by the price, even if I do find it ridiculous and would never pay it.
I am assuming they are going for a japanese fruit pricing strategy, making, some, apparently really good fruit, for crazy high prices. (I doubt many of them are actually worth the price, but I think it is mostly a gift giving thing over there). Kinda doubt that strategy is gonna work out in america.
It depends on whether a flavor burst is worth it for you.
I’ve not had any strawberries in the US supermarkets that were truly ripe and sweet.
Unlike most of Europe and Asia, we’re cursed with interstate agriculture and produce optimized for shipping cross-country for long distances.
To get somewhat close means going strawberry picking.
And about 2000km north of you they are even cheaper.
https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/strawberries/871283
There was a YouTube video linked in this thread showing how there is a strong market in Japan for ultra high quality strawberries where they are seen as a small quantity special treat to celebrate a big event rather than just a mass produced food.
Yeah but then you can't use a trendy buzzword farming method as a selling point for the Safeway ones.