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Admit it: you’ve walked previous the fruit part in a Japanese grocery store earlier than, solely to decelerate to ogle at them flawless Japanese strawberries.
It’s nearly frequent data that Japanese fruits are in a league of their very own – unblemished, juicy and of constantly prime quality.
If you happen to ask me, it’s additionally why the fruits are sometimes so costly (I imply, you pay for what you get proper?).
However what different elements resolve its value and what makes certainly one of its hottest merchandise – the Japanese strawberry – costlier than its counterparts?
We spoke to Ishino, who works on the Kumamoto Prefectural Gross sales Division of the Kumamoto Prefecture Workplace in Japan, to search out out.
Mr Ishino of the Kumamoto Prefectural Gross sales Channel Enlargement Enterprise Division of the Kumamoto Prefecture Workplace.
Kumamoto, one of many main agricultural areas in central Kyushu, Japan, is finest recognized for its vegetables and fruit in addition to livestock.
High quality management, from cultivation to distribution
With regards to producing Japanese fruits, additional care is taken to make sure the fruit’s high quality at each step of the best way.
Throughout selecting, every particular person fruit “goes by a really stringent choice course of by the human eye, earlier than getting packed and despatched off for supply”, Ishino shared.
“Elements resembling the scale, form, and whether or not the product has any bruises, are considered.”
Within the case of “non-standard” merchandise (color, deformation, different flaws), the fruits are often returned to the farm.
Past the manufacturing aspect, the upper unit value stems from “essential prices” in intermediate distribution when offered overseas.
“It’s actually true that Japanese fruit could be costlier than fruit produced and offered in Singapore. That is as it’s imported on planes from Japanese farms 5,200 km away, all whereas sustaining a sure commonplace of freshness”, defined Ishino.
Taking into consideration the efforts of farmers
The value additionally takes into consideration the massive quantity of effort and time invested by strawberry farmers – about 1,700 hours per yr per 1,000 sq. metres.
At farms, strawberries are rigorously monitored to make sure that they’re rising properly, with the optimum kind of fertiliser and proper temperature.
The strawberries are subsequently sorted by hand in response to color and form, after which rigorously packed to forestall them from being crushed.
Ishino shared that this consideration to element is even prolonged to the packaging, which is designed to “catch the attention of the buyer and showcase the strawberries inside”.
“Japanese produce at its core is all about its style and outward look.”
So, how are Japanese strawberries graded?
So say you wished to purchase Japanese strawberries (as a result of they’re essentially the most affordably priced at about 600-1200 yen per packet (S$7 – S$14) in a grocery store) – how will you know whether or not they’re really of superior high quality, or not?
In line with Ishino, Japanese strawberries are sometimes graded based mostly on their dimension, form and sugar content material, amongst different elements.
What makes a strawberry a lower above the remaining, is an efficient stability between its sweetness and acidity.
These which can be the most well-liked are often additionally sweeter.
Some examples embody the ‘Yūbeni’ strawberries from the Kumamoto prefecture, in addition to different varieties, such because the ‘Koiminori’, ‘Kaorino’, and ‘Benihoppe’ strawberries.
All are cultivated as a result of “considerable pure sources and freshwater within the area”, elaborated Ishino.
The value of the strawberries actually is dependent upon the time of the yr, with the strawberry season typically occurring between December to March.
For supermarkets in Japan, a packet of strawberries sometimes prices between 600 to 1200 yen (about S$7 to S$14).
What makes the Kumamoto strawberries particular
The ‘Yūbeni’ strawberry, specifically, was cultivated at Kumamoto’s prefectural testing institute for a number of years.
It’s thought of to be one of many S-tier (that are of upper high quality) Japanese strawberries of upper high quality.
The typical ‘Yūbeni’ strawberry is outlined by its massive, conical form and powerful color – scarlet pink.
Aroma smart, in response to Ishino, the greenhouses that the ‘Yūbeni’ strawberries are cultivated in sometimes odor very aromatic and candy.
A barely decrease acidity additionally offers the ‘Yūbeni’ strawberry stability of candy and tart, leading to an total high quality that’s increased however far more costly.
A strawberry farm in Kumamoto. The Kumamoto prefecture is well-known for a lot of pure phenomenons, together with the mountains of Aso, and the grasslands round Aso metropolis. The prefecture cultivates all kinds of agricultural merchandise, resembling rice, watermelons, dekopon (pomelo), and tomatoes.
Freshly picked ‘Yūbeni’ strawberries from a farm in Kumamoto.
decide the freshest Japanese strawberries
If you happen to’re eager on making an attempt these berry-licious strawberries, you received’t truly must journey some 5,200km to Japan simply to get a style.
The ‘Yūbeni Ichigo’ strawberries from Kumamoto at the moment are accessible in Singapore’s supermarkets, particularly, the typical Singaporean’s favorite Japanese megastore – Don Don Donki.
The strawberries could be discovered on the fruits part of Don Don Donki shops, nestled amongst many different Japanese items.
Japanese fruit part at Don Don Donki’s Farrer Park outlet
Search for the tag “Kumamoto Strawberry”. Notice that the costs differ in response to the kind of strawberry selection.
The ‘Yūbeni Ichigo’ strawberries on show.
To select the freshest Japanese strawberries, Ishino shared the following tips:
- The strawberry has a shiny exterior with a agency texture.
- The strawberry has a “energetic” and deep pink color. The redder it’s in direction of the calyx (the leafy crown), the higher.
- The color of the strawberry’s calyx is a wealthy inexperienced.
Naturally, this author had to purchase a packet to strive, and was pleasantly stunned that every strawberry was actually very huge and spherical – nearly as huge because the palm of her hand.
It couldn’t be polished off with a single chew — a number of bites have been wanted as in comparison with the typical strawberry.
There was additionally a definite perfume coming from the packet, even earlier than the packaging was eliminated.
True to kind, all strawberries have been very pink and ripe.
Every strawberry was additionally filled with a number of juice, and tasted quite a bit sweeter and nicer than what she was used to.
Strawberries rinsed and able to eat.
For top of the range and situation, the strawberries needs to be consumed on the day of buy.
A 1 chew 5 phrase evaluate: Juicy sweetness in each chew.
If you happen to’re eager on making an attempt some Kumamoto strawberries, go to the closest Don Don Donki outlet in Singapore. Notice that the varieties offered might differ relying on availability.
Presently, the worth of strawberries from the Kumamoto Prefecture at Don Don Donki vary from S$12.90-S$15.90 per pack. Nevertheless, costs are topic to vary.
For extra on the land of juicy pink strawberries, you’ll be able to try Kumamoto’s farms and fashionable sightseeing spots nearly right here.
This sponsored article by Kumamoto Prefecture made the author severely miss journey. Japan-Singapore VTL when?
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