This NYC Pop Up Is Charging $100 For 12 Strawberries

Most people love a strawberry. They’re even the universal symbol of berries of all kinds and their sweet, simple flavor is irresistible to so many. And I’m sure a lot of us have had that moment at some point in their lives when we sink our teeth into the tender, succulent flesh of a strawberry and are hit with the realization that we’ve probably just tasted the best strawberry that we’ll ever taste in our whole lives. It’s incredible to have that moment even once in our lives, but for it to happen multiple times or for it to even be guaranteed is a whole other situation entirely.

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But there is one company who have taken the extremes of strawberries’ success to a whole new level. And up until now they’ve only been selling their deluxe strawberries in select grocery stores. But, starting late last month, this Japanese brand has begun their 10-week gourmet strawberry pop-up in New York City.

Why These Strawberries Are So Special

Oishii is the name of the company that is producing these “superior” deluxe strawberries. The company grows the strawberries themselves in New Jersey, but their distribution in select grocery stores has allowed their company to grow and see enough success to warn opening this new pop-up at the Chelsea Market in New York City. Their Japanese-style Connoisseur Grade Omakase Strawberries are what defines the company and will be the primary retail product in the pop-up.

The thing that makes the strawberries so special is their growing process. They are grown in New Jersey, yes. But, they are grown under strict conditions that mimic the environment of strawberries grown in the Japanese Alps in order to give them that signature flavor. 

The berries are grown indoors, using proprietary technology to replicate the climate of the Alps, are pesticide free, and are pollinated with live bees. After they’re grown, Oishii’s in-house “berry sommelier” hand selects the top 1% of the berries. These are the ones sold as the Connoisseur Grade Omakase Strawberries. A six-pack of these luxury berries comes in at a whopping $50, and a dozen is $100.

$100 For Just A Dozen?

For as ridiculous as this sounds, luxury opportunities are all over New York City. So, if this venture could be successful anywhere, NYC seems like the right place to do it. Plus, there are luxury experiences available for pretty much everything nowadays—why not berries, too? And this pop-up is allowing the company to expand on their market, too. Not only will customers be able to buy exclusive merchandise, but different pastries and sweets using the brand’s crops will also be available. 

If you still don’t buy it and need to try out just one before committing to what seems to be a bit of a luxury gimmick, then they have a single strawberry for sale at a $10 price point. While $10 is still extreme, it would at least allow you to see if all this fuss is worth it. That said, the single strawberries are of a different variety, despite still being Connoisseur Grade and hand-selected.