Shizuoka's food cultureKnow

Strawberries are always ranked high on the list of favorite fruits. Their bright red berries and refreshing sweet and sour taste are one of a kind. They are delicious eaten as is, and also enhance the flavor of cakes and other sweets. But did you know that Shizuoka Prefecture is actually one of the leading strawberry producing areas in the country? Strawberries are grown in a wide range of areas within the prefecture, from the east to the central and western parts, and varieties native to Shizuoka such as "Beni Hoppe" and "Kirapika" are popular all over the country. So this time, we visited a strawberry farm in Izunokuni City to explore the appeal of strawberries grown in Shizuoka Prefecture.JAWe spoke with producers at the Fuji Izu Nirayama Agriculture and Economic Center.

Izunokuni City is one of the prefecture's leading strawberry producing areas, and is actively engaged in strawberry cultivation, including being one of the first cities in the prefecture to fully introduce the "Benihoppe" variety.

"The birthplace of strawberry cultivation in Izu is said to be Tamagawa in Mishima City. From there, it spread to the Nirayama area of ​​Izunokuni City, and in the Showa era27"Strawberry cultivation began in 2013," he told me.JAToshiaki Fujinami from Shizuoka Economic Federation.

"For Shizuoka Prefecture as a whole, the strawberry production value for fiscal year 2021 was the highest in the nation.5Ranked 1st in the nation in terms of cultivated area4Strawberries are cultivated throughout the prefecture, and farmland is230 haHowever, because Shizuoka Prefecture has many tourist destinations, about half of the farms are tourist farms. Shizuoka Prefecture has also organized the Shizuoka Prefecture Strawberry Council to strengthen cooperation between producers, and is thoroughly implementing joint selection and sales in which strawberries are selected and shipped together by agricultural cooperatives.,Another aim is to ship large quantities to urban markets, which will increase distribution throughout the world and raise awareness," says Fujinami.

(Toshiaki Fujinami)

In Shizuoka Prefecture, where farmers work together to produce strawberries, they have also focused on developing new varieties.

"Currently, the council recommends "Benihoppe" and "Kirapika."4600Of the tons, about7The majority is "Benihoppe".,approx 3The majority of the flavors are from Kirapika.2002Since it was registered as a variety in 2000, it has been the prefecture's flagship variety for a long time. Since then, a new variety, "Kirapika," has been created. "Kirapika" is shiny, beautiful in appearance, and has a rich fragrance. "We expect it to be the next flagship variety," said Nirayama Agriculture and Economic Center.Hara Shintaro explains.

(Hara Shintaro)

"The extreme heat in recent summers has also had an impact on strawberry cultivation. Strawberries are stimulated by the cold to produce flower buds, but the continued heat has delayed the flower bud formation, causing problems with shipments not being able to arrive in time for the peak Christmas season. The new variety, Kirapika, is less susceptible to the heat, so it may be a variety suited to recent climates."

The person who told us about the characteristics of "Kirapika" was Mr. Hisao Iida, chairman of the Shizuoka Prefecture Strawberry Council and chairman of the Izu no Kuni Strawberry Committee. He is also a strawberry farmer and grows "Benihoppe" and "Kirapika".

(Hisao Iida)

"When I give strawberries to a crying child, he immediately stops crying and starts eating in silence. Just seeing him like that makes me glad that I grew strawberries. I want to continue working hard to produce delicious strawberries that will be loved by many people," says Iida.

To enjoy the carefully grown strawberries in the prefecture, we visited Kuno Beach in the southern part of Shimizu Ward, Shizuoka City. The magnificent Suruga Bay spreads out before us. As we drove along the road that runs along the coastline, we could see many vinyl greenhouses on the land side.

This is one of the best strawberry picking spots in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is known for having many tourist farms.

"Strawberries have been grown in this area since ancient times, taking advantage of the warm climate and the good sunlight on the southern slope. Most of the strawberries grown around here are tourist farms, and the general public can enjoy picking them," explains Nakamura Kumi of Yamase Strawberry Farm, which cultivates strawberries.

It's quick to be ready for harvest11From late May. After that,5You can enjoy strawberry picking until around May.

"At Yamase Strawberry Farm, we used to only grow the "Akihime" variety, but now we have added "Benihoppe," "Kirapika," and "Yotsuboshi."4The farm has about60There are greenhouses in the building, but basically1In the building2We grow different varieties so you can enjoy comparing them."

Since the strawberries are picked at the right time of year, you cannot specify the variety, but if you compare the different varieties, you can clearly see the difference in taste.

The colours of the circles painted on the greenhouses represent the varieties of strawberries being grown inside.

We asked Nakamura how to identify and taste delicious strawberries.

"Strawberries taste best when it's cold.1~2It is the month of September. This is because they gradually turn red and store up plenty of sweetness. You can tell delicious strawberries by the shape of their stems. A sign of ripeness is when the stem curls upwards like an eyelash. Also, some strawberries have white cracks in the flesh below the stem, but this does not mean they are spoiled; it is proof that the strawberry is perfectly ripe and the sugar content in the flesh has reached its limit, making it extremely sweet. When eating, remove the stem first and start eating from the end where the stem was. The tip is sweeter, so you can enjoy it until the very end."

If you try eating them this way, the sourness and sweetness spread in your mouth in just the right balance, making them truly delicious. If you go strawberry picking, be sure to give it a try.

Shizuoka Prefecture strawberries are packed with the passion of the growers and the bounty of nature. Take your time to savor each and every strawberry while thinking about the background of the strawberries. You'll surely find that you'll find a taste unlike anything you've ever experienced before.

Shizuoka Prefecture's strawberries vary greatly depending on the variety and region. Please come and enjoy them in Shizuoka Prefecture.