Australia has been galvanised by ‘melon-gate’. So what is the luxury fruit at the centre of the PM’s controversy?

Shizuoka Crown melons are part of an important cultural gifting practice in Japan, where they are hand-patted by growers to achieve an even shape and texture The melons at the centre of a national imbroglio involving the Australian prime minister have the sweetness of a watermelon, the snap of a honeydew and the perfume of a peach, according to fruit sellers. Anthony Albanese maintains he has nothing to apologise for, after a joke he made regarding a gift he received from Japan’s prime minister. While Albanese is facing scrutiny over his comments – and hand gestures – the fruit in question has received less attention. They are not only a prized delicacy but are a part of a significant Japanese cultural practice. According to Melbourne fruitier Thanh Truong, also known as Fruit Nerd, there is a culture of fruit gifting in Japan that does not exist in Australia. “We don’t have a culture of spending money on fruit like they do in other parts of the world,” Truong said. This is because, in Australia, fruits are understood as a “commodity”, something that should be priced accessibly for everyone, he said. Shizuoka Crown melons are a luxury good – priced between $50 and