A good amount of the produce at the commissary is flown in for us.

But some things aren’t flown in at all.

In fact, some things are sourced locally.

Like watermelon.

Korean watermelon.

Smaller, more round – less oblong, about the size of a basketball.

All with stickers letting us know this is a locally grown item.

Factor in the heat & humidity we’re now getting along with the fact that the 4th of July is just around the corner and watermelon - regardless of it’s nationality – sounds pretty good right about now.

Ice cold slices…chopped up & blended into an icy slush…or made into a granita…the possibilities are endless.

My mom likes to eat her’s with a litte salt sprinkled on top.

So when I saw these babies all piled up I made a dash to grab one.

That is until I saw the price.

Yep.

12 bucks.

12 bucks for watermelon that is grown locally, that’s smaller than the watermelons back home, & that didn’t even have to fly in from California.

The kicker to all this is that you can also buy these exact same melons off base.

There’s usually a farmer out & about with his little Bongo truck selling them out the back for 5,000 won.

Bongo Truck: A Korean delivery truck. They’re smaller than a Ford F-150 – more like the size of a minivan. And come in your choice of blue or white. They also won’t hesitate to run you over.

5,000 won = (roughly) 5 American dollars.

Needless to say, I didn’t get one…and neither did anyone else.

The whole pile of them has been sitting there for over a week now.

So help me out here…how much is watermelon going for in your neck of the woods?