Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

JA ZEN-NOH opens new takeaway outlet at Shingawa Station

TOKYO, March. 23 ― Japan’s largest farmers’ group has opened an outlet at Shiganaga St., one of Tokyo’s most affluent district, to offer takeaway options such as lunch boxes and other ready-to-go foods that use Japanese-grown farm products. The outlet, called “Minori Minoru Kitchen,” is part of a project launched by JA ZEN-NOH, the National Federation of Agriculture Cooperative Associations, the marketing arm of JA group, to boost an increase in consumer interest in locally produced foods. In 2010, JA ZEN-NOH opened its first restaurant that use Japanese-grown farm products. Since then, its restaurants and café have grown to 15 outlets nationwide. Japan’s takeaway food market has grown to 10 … Continue reading

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Japan’s Shinano Gold apple is set to go global with yello brand

TOKYO, March. 13 ― Nagano prefecture has signed an agreement with two Italy’s cooperatives for the exclusive permanent production and marketing license of its Shinano Gold apple in five countries of the south hemisphere such as New Zealand and South Africa. The variety was originally created in Nagano from a cross between the Golden Delicious and the Senshu and is marketed under the yello brand, highlighting its distinctive color. Nagano prefecture has already an agreement in 2016 with VOG, the Association of South Tyrolean Fruit Growers’ Cooperatives, and VI.P, the Association of Val Venosta Fruit Growers’ Cooperatives, for the exclusive permanent production and marketing license for all of Europe and … Continue reading

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Multilingual booking system boosts foreigners in rural Japan

TOKYO, March. 19 ― Japan’s online booking system for farm stays in rural villages should provide versions in foreign languages, because the number of foreign travelers in the country has grown five times, the agriculture ministry has said. According to a survey conducted by the agriculture ministry, 63 villages that launched multilingual versions for farm stay booking accommodated 1,547 foreign visitors on average per village in 2017. On the other hand, 142 villages that were available only in Japanese for online booking systems totaled 314 foreign on average per village. It appears foreign tourists who do not speak Japanese face difficulties to book accommodations in rural Japan. The Japanese agriculture … Continue reading

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JA Fukushima offers retro metal lunch boxes to reflect SDGs

FUKUSHIMA, March 28 ― A farmers’ group in Fukushima prefecture has offered retro metal lunch boxes featuring the old imperial era of Showa at its annual meeting this year. In its three-year action plan, JA Fukushima emphasizes the need for implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its relevance in the context of Fukushima, which was hit hard by the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster. JA Fukushima seized an opportunity to let participants to reflect the SDGs at the annual meeting on March 27 by serving lunch boxes, which were made of aluminum and wrapped with a handkerchief.

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JA group Nakaya meets global cooperative ICA vice-president

TOKYO, March. 15 ―JA-ZENCHU Chairman Toru Nakaya has met Jean-Louis Bancel, vice-president of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) in Tokyo to exchange their views on the cooperative movement at home and abroad. Bancel was visiting Tokyo as one of the French delegation to attend the Business 20 (B20) Tokyo Summit on March 14 and 15. The B20 is the business version of the Group of 20 summit. The B20 is held every year ahead of the G20 summit. The next summit is slated for June in Osaka, Japan. “Japan has an important role in the long history of the cooperative movement,” Bancel said. “It is vital to call for greater … Continue reading

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