CHIBA, April 3 — JAS, an agricultural production corporation in Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, began growing strawberries in New Zealand where seasons are opposite. The corporation aims to realize year-round supply of strawberries by producing them abroad during summer when domestic yield is low. It manages the crops remotely from Japan using its own environmental control system. JAS grows strawberries including the Benihoppe and Oi C Berry varieties on its 1.4-hectare farm with the annual yield of around 70 tons. It ties up with farms in four locations nationwide to engage in other businesses such as sales of seedlings and agritourism. At all of the farms, including the one in New … Continue reading →

HYOGO, March 26 — An auction for overseas buyers seeking premium wagyu beef was held on March 25 at Wagyu Master Meat Center, a meat processing facility in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. More than 100 buyers from 12 countries and regions joined the bidding for carcasses of wagyu beef brands including Kobe beef. The highest successful bid price was 36,570 yen per kilogram excluding tax. It was the first time an auction dedicated to foreign buyers was held in Japan. The Japanese Wagyu World Auction was organized by an organization comprising the meat center, Kobe Beef Marketing & Distribution Promotion Association and S Foods Inc., a meat wholesaler based in Nishinomiya, … Continue reading →