KUMAMOTO -- The price of tomatoes in Kumamoto Prefecture, which boasts Japan's largest production, more than quadrupled on Nov. 19 from the day before due to a poor harvest and Black Friday demand.

According to distributer Kumamoto Daido Seika Co., boxes of 24 tomatoes weighing 4 kilograms were traded for 5,770 yen (about $37) each on Nov. 18, but the price jumped to 23,900 yen (roughly $154) per box the following day. A company representative was surprised, saying, "This is an unprecedentedly high price."

Kumamoto Daido Seika said that the direct reason for this price surge is that supply is not keeping up with demand from food service and mass retail industries ahead of Black Friday, the biggest event in the distribution industry.

A distribution industry insider explained that some winter and spring tomatoes continued to have poor fruit just when the harvest of summer and fall tomatoes grown in mountainous areas was almost over. Heavy demand combined with a short supply is believed to have affected the price.

(Japanese original by Fumito Tsushima, Kumamoto Bureau)