Though we have posted many articles about the Western Vegetable Project in Ichinoseki, we wanted to give you all an update!

URL:https://www.iwate-ilc.jp/eng/ktimes/making-ichinoseki-a-huge-producer-of-western-vegetables/

First let’s talk about the “Western vegetables” grown in Iwate. A majority of the vegetables normally eaten in Iwate are western or were brought in from overseas but not all of these are considered western vegetables. Vegetables like potatoes, onions, eggplants, tomatoes and carrots are vegetables that are sold at most stores and are already widespread so they are not called western vegetables.

Some vegetables that are considered western are things like radish, watercress, beets, chicory and leeks. In many cases, buying western vegetables like these is done at the farmer’s markets or online, since not very many stores stock them.

The Ichinoseki “Southern Agricultural Technology Development Center” is aiming to cultivate and popularize western vegetables in Ichinoseki, as the city is a candidate construction site for the ILC.

“Ichinoseki Southern Agricultural Technology Development Center” (Hanaizumi Ichinoseki)”

I did an interview with them, so let’s cover that first.

Q1 Among other things, I saw you cultivating chili peppers, kale, and fennel. How is the 2021 crop coming along?

A1: In 2021 we have implemented a strategy to prevent the loss of yield from growing the same crop in the same field, and got the harvest we had hoped for. We have cultivated the crops throughout the season in a way that speeds up the two crop rotation system in place, in order to ensure there are no empty spaces and create a beautiful looking field. By reviewing our cultivation methods from square one, we have stabilized the yield of our second crop. We were able to realize our aim to provide a variety of vegetables to local restaurants by increasing production.

Because of the state of emergency in 2021, the number of people coming on field trips to the farm have decreased but, the people who have come have rated our vegetables highly. We are currently cultivating all in all 110 different kinds of vegetables.

【Crispino Lettuce】

【Paprika】

【State of the garden】

Q2 Are there any new updates on the 6 farmers who you were working with to grow shallots in 2020?

A2 There are still 6 farmers growing shallots. We have been farming together and keeping a record of the growth of the crops during the routine inspections of the fields. We have also been conducting online meetings to improve cultivation techniques. One of the biggest problems is that some farmers are not able to get the harvest they hoped for because of the lack of manpower during the summer time.

Q3 Do you do any western vegetable cultivation work with Iwate’s “Agricultural Extension Center” and “Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA)”?   

A3 We asked them for supervision and the final check regarding the crop calendar of shallots and leeks, and as well as when we created the pest control calendar. We had the JA provide us data of their green onion crop calendar which we used as the foundation for ours.

Next, I will explain a bit about the [HELLO Western Vegetables Fair] that we have been working on.

At the fair, restaurants and cafes from around Ichinoseki offered an original menu featuring western vegetables that were produced in the city. Customers could get those recipes by answering a questionnaire. The event was held twice last year, from July 31^st to August 31^st and November 20^th to December 19^th and was organized by the “Ichinoseki Southern Agricultural Technology Development Center”.

Q4 Using the “HELLO! Western Vegetable Fair” as a place where the general consumer is able to eat western vegetables is certainly an interesting plan, but why did you want to start it in the first place? How was the reaction?

A4. The goal was to connect restaurants with farmers, farmers with consumers, and consumers with restaurants.

According to restaurant staff, there were high levels of interest in their recipe books. I think this fair made people want to learn more about western vegetables. A chef was saying there were many questions about rhubarb and the like, and so I think the interest in western vegetables has grown.

Q5 Was there anything that you found difficult? How do you plan to expand from here on out?

A5. The vegetables that each participating shop wants to use are different, and there are certain preferences towards specific types of produce they use so I have made great efforts get those vegetables to them. Also the number of people participating in the fair didn’t increase as I was hoping because there was a state of emergency, so that was tough.

During our first half of the fair, we offered vegetables in August at the center, but the growers weren’t able to offer their produce to customers. However in the second half of the fair, the growers also were able to sell their produce to customers. We are aiming for a fair where the restaurants use the vegetables grown by the farmers to serve dishes to citizens, so we would like to increase more of these interactions.

So far, I feel that the vegetable growing information from the growers and restaurant usage information hasn’t been well connected, and so I want to strengthen the relationship and make the fair one where each party can understand the other’s situation. Finally we hope to increase the number of restaurants participating and plan a big get together event for everyone once the number of participating farms and restaurants gas reached a high enough number.

I was shown the farm and enjoyed looking at the many colourful vegetables they had to offer despite the fact that it gets colder day by day this time of year.

From this interview I am reminded again that the connections to restaurants and consumers are very important. I received a variety of vegetables on my way home from the center, which I heard are also given out to others who come to see the farm as well. There were vegetables similar to those often eaten in Japan like lettuce, pumpkin and Chinese Cabbage and I enjoyed eating them. The vegetables you are unfamiliar with have many recipes that you can use with them online if you search them up so by all means give it a try. It was a valuable experience for me as well.

Anybody can come and visit the center if you make a prior reservation, so if you get the chance to visit Ichinoseki come by and give it a look!

【Vegetables I received】

Next I visited farmer who grows leeks to ask some questions.

Q.Why did you want to start growing western vegetables? What are some of the struggles you have had so far?

A.  I was introduced to leeks out of the western vegetables by the people at the “Ichinoseki Southern Agricultural Technology Development Center”. We started growing them from 2020 since the planting calendar didn’t overlap with my other crops. We are struggling a bit since leek cultivation is different from the green onions we have grown until now. We are growing around 3000 leeks in about 400m² of land but, everything from planting to weeding is done by hand so the manual labour is a struggle too.

We hardly harvested anything in the first year but in 2021, once we changed our fields from a slope to a flat piece of land, we were able to have a big harvest of leeks.

I was able to see the leek crop myself, and I was surprised by how thick they were. They are about two times as thick as the green onions we use in miso soup and hot pots. (They say they are grown to about 5 centimeters thick)

【Leek farm pictures】

After interviewing the farmers, I went to HIRASAWA F MARKET which participates in the “Western Vegetable Fair” (In Sannoseki, Ichinoseki). I had a sandwich that had tartar sauce made from shallots. I thought the spice and fragrance suited the tartar sauce perfectly.

【The restaurant I had lunch at】

The center that organizes the “Western Vegetable Fair” has said that they would like to hold the fair a third and fourth time. It’s a great chance for people to try various western vegetables so I want them to continue running them. I am hoping for the further development of farmer and restaurant relations as well as increased western vegetable related activity.