TOKYO, Sep. 9 ― Representatives of agricultural cooperatives in Iwate Prefecture including Norio Kubo, chairman of the central union of agricultural cooperatives in Iwate Prefecture (JA Iwate Prefecture Central Union) and Iwate Headquarters of National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH Iwate), met with Shunichi Suzuki, the minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, on September 8, 2017. The party presented Suzuki a bouquet and pots of fresh gentians produced by growers in Iwate Prefecture. It was part of the efforts to communicate the charm of the flowers from Iwate to the world through the exposure at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympics Game. Minister Suzuki … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Sept. 6 ― A wave of Chinese trademark registrations that use Japanese agricultural brand names has raised fresh concerns among growers here. The Chinese trademark office recently approved an application of “Skyberry” requested by a Shanghai-based online shopping company. In Japan, Skyberry is a registered trademark for a strawberry variety, which was developed by growers in Tochigi prefecture after nearly two decades of work. It has nothing to do with the Chinese internet company. The trademark registration is vital for Japanese farmers to ensure that their brand names are reserved exclusively for products from their regions to give greater protection from misuse of the names overseas. So, the Tochigi … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Sept. 5 ― Japan’s governmental export agency says it will start disseminating information from next year on the most in-demand agriculture products in Asian markets. The objective is to help Japanese food producers and processors to develop export markets, according to the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), a trade ministry subsidiary that connects Japanese producers with overseas markets. “Farmers have got to produce what the market wants, not the other way around,” said JETRO Chairman Hiroyuki Ishige at a press conference on Sept. 4. Every year, JETRO supports Japanese producers take part in more than 50 food exhibitions and promotional events around the globe. Tapping into its own network … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Sept. 2 ─ Beet cyst nematode, a serious pest in root crop production, has been found in a farm in northern Japan for the first time, the agriculture ministry says. The microscopic worms invade the roots of plants and cause swelling in the roots that make it difficult for plants to take in water and nutrients, drastically reducing yields. It is not harmful for humans to eat infested plants, but the pest causes hundreds of billions of dollars in crop failures worldwide each year, officials say. The ministry announced Sept. 01 the discovery of beet cyst nematode in farms that grows cabbage, broccoli and other vegetables in Haramura, Nagano … Continue reading →