“Edosaki-pumpkin” producers’ organization of Inashiki Agricultural Cooperative (JA), based at Inashiki-shi, Ibaraki prefecture, celebrated the first shipment of members’ products this year on May 18, since the “Edosaki-pumpkin” was registered last December under the Geographical Indication (GI) Protection System in Japan, which was founded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) in June 2015. The “Edosaki-pumpkin” was authorized by MAFF as a GI product earlier than any other applicants.
Toshio Nakamura, president of “Edosaki-pumpkin” producers’ organization of JA Inashiki, is putting a GI label on the package. (Inashiki-shi, Ibaraki prefecture)
A MAFF-authorized GI label was affixed on each package of the pumpkins. In commemoration of the first marketing of the GI marked pumpkins, JA Inashiki has prepared a new brochure of the products and special flags to further promote its publicity activities for the “Edosaki-pumpkin.”
On May 18, ten member farmers of the “Edosaki-pumpkin” producers’ organization brought about 55 cases (10 kg per case) into Farm Product Collection Center of the JA Inashiki. The producers’ group consists of 30 members growing the pumpkins on 28-hectare farmlands in total.