The Hotsigo Melon Story

1973

A True Story

Told to me by Barney Kaplan in 9/2012

Written in 09/2012* 250 Words* By Howard Yasgar

My good friend Barney Kaplan passed away on Oct 1, 2014, he was 96 years old.

Barney told me this story that happened to him when he was a young boy.

When he had free time he worked for his father.

Barney’s father was an Immigrant that spoke with a heavy European accent.

At the time of this story, Barney’s father had a booth at the Detroit fruit and vegetable market.

He sold whatever fruit or vegetable was in season, or whatever item he could buy at the right price.

Whenever Barney didn’t have to go to school, his father would take him to the vegetable market to help him sell.

Barney said, it was about 6 AM on a cold Sunday morning when his father came home and picked him up.

His pickup truck was loaded with some kind of imported melons.

Barney asked his dad what they were, as he had never seen melons like them before.

His father replied, they were “Hotsigo Melons”, and he had bought them cheap direct from the importer.

So, all day Barney stood at their booth yelling “Hotsigo Melons!”, “Sweet, fresh Hotsigo Melons”.

By about 6 PM all the melons had been sold.

As they were driving home Barney saw another vendor selling the same melons.

The vendor had a big sign, it said, “Sweet Hearts of Gold Melons” for sale.