Hidaka, Hokkaido – When one among my neighbors gifted me potatoes not too long ago, I used to be stunned how excellent all of them appeared, particularly for one thing homegrown.
Lately, the potatoes grown in Japan’s most northern prefecture have been underwhelming — in each high quality and amount. However not this 12 months: The caliber of 2026’s potatoes is likely to be a few of the finest produced in a decade, a boon for snack meals makers and residential cooks alike with grocery store cabinets positive to be well-stocked.
As not too long ago as final autumn, excessive temperatures and inconsistent rain induced a pointy decline in harvest quantity and potato high quality. Unpredictable climate comparable to 2017’s punishing typhoons led potato chips producer Calbee to create contingencies in case Hokkaido crops have been inadequate, diversifying into Tohoku and whilst far south as northern Kyushu.
