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Erewhon Is Selling A Single Strawberry For $20 & The Internet Has Thoughts

Kennedy Dierks

Erewhon isn’t just a grocery store, it’s a cultural phenomenon. The luxury food store chain, which has 10 locations in the Los Angeles area, started to gain popularity among celebrities and influencers and has since become a tourist hotspot thanks to celebrity collaborations and outrageous prices that make mere mortals do a double take. From $22 smoothies with luxury ingredients to $30 hand-cut ice, the chain has made a splash with its high-end groceries and food that’s far from budget-friendly. Now, the newest absurdly-priced item at the store is a single Erewhon strawberry — and its $20 price tag has sent the internet into a frenzy.

Why is the Erewhon strawberry so expensive?

$20 for strawberries seems ridiculous, but what makes it even worse is that it’s not a pint, or even a half-pint — the whopping price tag is for one single strawberry. Yes, you read that correctly. $19.99. For one. Single. Strawberry.

The Elly Amai strawberry is imported from Kyoto, Japan, and the import logistics alone already lend some insight into the high costs. Beyond that, though, “Each berry is cultivated to achieve perfect symmetry, brilliant color, and exceptional size,” according to the Erewhon display description provided by Elly Mai. 

The Japanese strawberries “redefine sweetness and beauty,” and come with a specific list of instructions: once the customer removes the berry from the delicate container, it’s recommended to remove the stem and wait 30 minutes “to bring out maximum sweetness and aroma” before eating. 

What is the internet saying about the $20 Erewhon strawberry?

Earlier this week, influencer Alyssa Antoci (whose aunt and uncle own the Erewhon chain) shared a video of herself unboxing the single strawberry and tasting it outside of an Erewhon store on TikTok.

@alyssaantocii

insane

♬ original sound – lyss

“Wow, this is the best strawberry,” Antoci says in the video. “That’s crazy.” 

Antonci’s video has amassed 16 million views as of Thursday morning, and naturally, the internet has thoughts about the $20 strawberry. While Antonci’s review has inspired some customers to visit Erewhon and try the strawberry for themselves, the majority of the internet is simply flabbergasted by the price tag. Here are the best Erewhon strawberry memes, Tweets, and internet reactions — and they don’t cost $20 to read.

For $20, you may as well just go to Japan.

Cross-country flight to Erewhon for a $19 strawberry, or international flight to try the fruit straight from the source?

What’s the interest rate on a loan for strawberries?

Brb, stepping out for a quick lunch meeting with my financial planner.

No really, is there a pricing plan?

Based on the positive responses, the Erewhon strawberry may be worth going into debt for.

Like the Bernie Sanders meme, “I’m once again asking for your financial support.”

I’ll also except Venmo, Zelle, or cold hard cash.

As expensive as eggs are right now, a whole dozen is still cheaper than the Erewhon strawberry.

RIP my favorite hard-boiled eggs and berries breakfast combo.

Erewhon strawberry + hand-cut ice = the perfect smoothie.

Why pay $22 for the Hailey Bieber smoothie when you can just make your own?

Or, buy the strawberry as a garnish for the coconut cream smoothie.

A $50 smoothie better be the best I’ve ever had.

I mean, if the strawberry alone is $20…

Given that it costs more than four pints of “normal” American strawberries, it better be damn good.

Is there a discount if the product is misshapen?

If you squint, it does look symmetrical.

Whole Foods? I don’t know her.

It’s Ere-whole wallet, now.

So how much for just the strawberry?

It does look like a museum-worthy showcase.

If you need to recoup the money spent, just tape the Erewhon strawberry to a wall.

You could probably make enough from a gallery showing to buy 10 more strawberries.

Presentation is everything.

Each slice is probably $3, give or take.

We stan a confident queen.

Seriously, based on the presentation alone, I’m confident that it’s a fantastic strawberry.

We have strawberries at home.

“I’m like, baby, no, there is no plane.”

Girls don’t want flowers, they want the $20 Erewhon strawberry.

It’s pretty much the same price as a dozen red roses, anyway. And you can eat it.

$20 is an investment, so customers should make the most of it.

I mean, the case does look like a little terrarium.

Kennedy Dierks
Kennedy Dierks is a National Contributor at Spoon University, and chapter president of Spoon at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. She covers all things food and has a soft spot for pop-culture moments, product launches, and the occasional cocktail.

Beyond Her Campus, Kennedy plans to pursue medicine and currently works as a medical assistant and clinical researcher. She has written for Teen Vogue, ABC News, and Girl’s Life Magazine, in addition to a number of academic and scholarly journals. She recently graduated from Seton Hall University, where she majored in Biology and Religious Studies while minoring in Art History. Kennedy is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at Seton Hall’s College of Interprofessional Health Sciences.

Kennedy is a Taylor Swift aficionado who is convinced that a New Jersey bagel makes everything better. In her free time, she can be found teaching spin classes at the gym, playing the guitar, designing art for her Redbubble shop, or roaming the aisles of Trader Joe’s looking for her new favorite product.