Strawberries in Japan!

If we are gonna talk about all this other stuff that Japan is famous for growing, then we can't leave out the delicious strawberries.
Nick and I get the privilege of living in a small town that grows a ton of strawberries. Like many things in Japan they grow the plants inside greenhouses. Consequently we have 2 strawberry seasons!! We get to eat them in the winter and the spring! But, don't be fooled into thinking you can get delicious strawberries any time you want them. If it's not during the "strawberry season", then you can't find a strawberry around. One thing is for sure, the Japanese like their fruit and vegetables fresh and HUGE!! Each berry in this picture is almost the size of your cell phone. They're not cheap either!














When Angie's parents were here we visited a grape farm for her dad. But, her mom's favorite fruit is strawberries. So, of course, we had to visit a strawberry farm for her! In fact, we visited a couple of them. Both farmers let us pick some of their prized berries and kept encouraging us to eat more and more!! I guess it's International that farmers enjoy showing off their product and watching other people enjoy them as well!!

In this farmer's case, he wanted us to show off his crop for the picture. Little did he know that his wife would give them to us as a gift afterwards. I'm not too sure how happy he was about that!
Boy they were tasty!




Both strawberry growers that we visited had their own roadside markets to sell their product. Although, like many produce in Japan, it is also sold at a local supermarket. If you can't find what you want at a supermarket, then you can take a trip to a few other open air markets that are found in the heart of many cities in Japan. But, you will find much more than things grown in the garden! Common and let's take a trip to one of these markets!!

Hydroponic Tomatoes In Japan!!

If you're wondering when this agriculture tour of Japan is going to end, then just hang on for a little while longer! On the other hand it shouldn't surprise you that we have such an interest in it because of our farming background! Hang on while we take a look at how hydroponic tomatoes are grown in Japan! Well, here's a sneak peek!

Hydroponically grown tomatoes are grown without soil inside a sterilized greenhouse. I know many are grown something like this in the states. But, I have never seen them first hand! So this was a real
treat AND yes the picture below is one giant tomato plant!!



All the plants are started from seed in a nutrient based water. The actual seed is carefully placed inside a small sponge as it germinates. The next picture is of the root system of each giant tomato plant. Each plant is less than a year old. They grow quickly and produce tons of fruit!

The plant is supported from the top where there is a trellis system in place. It is tall enough to walk underneath to do all the plant maintenance. There is no ground work here! The farmer continuously grows replacement plants. The greenhouse supports several varieties of tomato plants throughout the year. He has to keep a very good look out for disease and deal with it quickly so it doesn't spread to the rest of the plants that are in such close proximity. I must say that this greenhouse is definitely the cleanest that I've ever been in. It is also the first one that I had to take my
shoes off in!! The floor is covered with plastic as one more prevention to disease.

We've been to this farm twice. The first time we went the farmer was not completely prepared for all of our questions. Our friend had a little trouble translating as well. However, when we visited a second time both knew exactly what to say! The farm family was so surprised that foreigners took such an interest in their lively hood

So, there we were interrupting their work day. But, they were so hospitable and had a blast showing us around. This family as well as all the farms we have visited loaded us down with gifts of their crops and wouldn't let us pay them for any of it! Japanese have a thing or two to teach Americans about hospitality!!

NEXT UP....STRAWBERRIES!

Growing Grapes In Japan! (YouTube)

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

farmers!

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.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CMVMy4PWkac