Category Archives: Cooperatives

ZEN-NOH (National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations), agricultural cooperatives’ (JAs’) national business organization, headquartered at Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, launched a business of assisting condominium residents in opening a small-sized farmer’s market named “marché” in their common area of the large-sized condominium building. The opening of marchés at condos in big cities’ residential resion is expected not only to be useful for the residents to create a network of communication among themselves, but also helpful for aged residents to access their own “marché” within their residential area. Aged people called “disadvantaged shoppers” are increasing among condo residents as well, who have difficulties in accessing grocery stores located at distant places. ZEN-NOH now … Continue reading →

Representatives of agricultural cooperative (JA) organizations, led by Choe Okuno, president of JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives), paid a courtesy call on Yuji Yamamoto, newly appointed Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), at MAFF’s office in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo on August 5. inister Yamamoto and delegates of the JA group shared a common perspective of developing Japanese agriculture into a growth-oriented industry. They also agreed to promote close dialogue between themselves by meeting together on a regular basis. At the meeting with MAFF’s new leader, JA-ZENCHU’s president Okuno congratulated Yuji Yamamoto on joining the new Cabinet as the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Minister Yamamoto responded to the … Continue reading →

Hokuren, Hokkaido Economic Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, launched a new business of exporting Hokkaido rice along with mineral water to Singapore. The bottled water is newly developed specially for boosting exports of Hokkaido rice to a tropical country of Singapore, which is named as “Daisetsuzan (literally, great snow mountain) water in Hokkaido.” At a number of supermarkets in Singapore, Hokkaido rice and its water are displayed for sale in the same section with guiding information saying “Enjoy taste of Hokkaido rice cooked with Hokkaido water.” By exporting bottled water with rice packages, Hokuren has raised a filling ratio of the containers for rice shipment, which made it possible to transport … Continue reading →

Hokkaido Prefectural Union of Agricultural Cooperatives made an announcement on July 25 that the Hokkaido agricultural cooperative group (JA group) has started offering its own loyalty program for frequent-shoppers at JA farmer’s markets by using application software (app) designed to run on smartphones. The Hokkaido JA group’s program is to award points to consumers visiting farmer’s markets and other registered places in the prefecture. The consumers will be entitled to participate with their accumulated points in a lottery of gifts such as fresh farm crops and livestock products. The loyalty program is expected to play a role of inviting wide-ranged people to rural areas, which, the JA group hopes, will … Continue reading →