One bunch of grapes sells for $11,000 in Japan

In the United States, grapes are a pretty common and cheap fruit. In Japan, however, grapes are seen as a status symbol. This provides one explanation as to why one bunch of grapes sold at an auction for around $11,000.

As The Guardian reported, a bunch of about 30 grapes sold for 1.1 million Yen, which equates to about $370 per grape.

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The grapes, however, are not what Americans typically buy at the grocery store. They are of the Ruby Roman variety, and are known as the most expensive grapes in the world. Each is around the size of a ping pong ball.

Ruby Roman grapes are grown in Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture. Culmination began in 1992 of a different variety of grape, Fujiminori, but over the years, the new strain of grape was born. Ruby Romans began to be sold in 2008.

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The grapes need certain qualifications to be deemed Ruby Roman: They "must weigh at least 20g and have a sugar content of at least 18%" according to The Guardian.

Buyer Takamaru Konishi said, "These are truly Ruby Roman gems."

Konishi said he will share his grape fortune with others. He continued, "We will display them at our store before giving our customers a sample taste."