As I may have mentioned before, we always have the best adventures with our friends the Shiraishis. They know that we are particularly interested in the agriculture in Japan. So, on more than one occasion we have visited different kinds of farms.....grape, hydroponic tomato, strawberry, and various flower farms. When Angie's parents were here they also had the opportunity to visit the same grape farm! If you don't know, Angie's dad is a grape farmer in Northwest Arkansas. So, it was quite a treat to see how they grow them differently in Japan. This picture is all of us with the grape 
We have now been to the same grape farm three times! If you don't know anything about how grapes are grown in Northwest Arkansas, then just know that it is totally different in Japan. Many grapes in Japan are grown in greenhouses during the winter months. When the weather warms up, then the greenhouse is opened to the outside air. Remember that grapes are grown in small quantities here. The space for them is limited. So, greenhouses can be used effectively. This farm is about 10 acres.
The grapes are also grown in a canopy style. The fruit hangs from below the vine and it is tall enough to walk underneath. As you can imagine, most of the work is done by hand, even harvest. All of the grapes grown here are table grapes only. Size and quality is what matters most to the Japanese. Because of this, fruits are sold seasonally. In the US we are used to getting many fruits all year long. However, the Japanese prefer theirs fresh!
Last August we got to experience harvest time! It was a family and neighborhood event. In this picture you see Morio cutting the cluster of ripe grapes from below the vine. Notice that you can't see the grapes due to the individual bags that have been placed around each cluster. Many fruits are covered with bags for protection from insects and the rainy season that comes in the middle of summer.
After the grapes are cut, then they are off to the packing shed. Each cluster is then carefully unbagged, placed on a table for inspection, weighed, and then packaged several different ways.
Many of the farmer's neighbors are involved in this process. So we had fun meeting several new Japanese. I'm sure they thought it quite strange that a couple of Americans wanted this kind of experience in Japan!
Here is Yukiko showing a perfect grape cluster. The size of each grape is about the same as a quarter. After packaging, the grapes are taken to a very small building, owned by the farmer to be sold. As many fruits and vegetables in Japan, they may also be sold in the local supermarket. Often times we will see the local farmer's picture hung beside their produce in the story. What a great idea! We had a fun time picking, packaging, and eating the grapes!! It was also one more opportunity that we had to meet people that have never met Christian before.
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