Heart-shaped candies are a staple when it comes to expressing love in edible form, but Japanese farmers are now trying to introduce a Vitamin C version.

Yawatahama, Ehime Prefecture, already known for its high quality and tasty mandarin oranges, may be getting a boost in sales from this cutesy take on fresh produce. Farmers in the area are using metal tubes and wooden planks to craft the fruity to their liking. By locking the still-growing fruit in to place, it gives the orange the camel humps of a traditional heart shape and a pointed bottom. The heart-making instrument is pictured below.

Having produced about 250 of the oranges last year, the farmers are hoping to ride that success for sales going forward. Given Japan's love of seasonal goods, we figure this has a heart-shaped shot at being a big hit on Valentine's Day.