Phallic vegetable attracts bidders on Trade Me

The phallic eggplant is being sold on Trade Me with proceeds going to the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation. Photo / Supplied

Satisfaction is guaranteed for the highest bidder in the auction of an eggplant that has an eerie resemblance to male genitalia.

The phallic vegetable, which was listed on New Zealand internet-auction website Trade Me for a $1 reserve price on Saturday May 14, has attracted at least a dozen bidders.

The seller, who requested not to be named, said bidders are vying for a top quality variety known as "Black Beauty".

Proceeds from the sale will go to the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The Trade Me user said it all started as a joke when his father, an avid gardener, found the oddly-shaped aubergine growing in his vege patch.

"He thought it was hilarious, and my wife and I found it pretty funny too," said the man from the Waikato.

He added that the family thought long and hard about which charity deserved the proceeds from the sale.

Having recently lost a close family friend to prostate cancer, they were quite pleased to select the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation as the recipient.

"It was a happy coincidence that the eggplant had that shape," he added.

The auction for the vegetable, which was picked on Wednesday last week, runs until Saturday.

He said the 10cm eggplant is stored in the family's refrigerator at the moment and seemed to be holding up pretty well.

This is the first time he has listed anything for sale on Trade Me.

"I have been on Trade Me for a while, but I have never sold anything on it - until now," he said .