Shizuoka's food cultureKnow

Kawazu Town and Higashiizu Town on the Izu Peninsula are known for their Kawazu cherry blossoms. In this area blessed with a warm climate, there is a citrus fruit that is in season at the beginning of spring. It is called "Izunoharu." The skin can be easily peeled by hand, and the refreshing sweetness fills your mouth. This time, we spoke with producer Tsunehira Tsuchiya,JAWe asked Akihiro Tsuchiya of Fujiizu about the thoughts he put into "Izunoharu."

Kawazu cherry blossoms, native to Kawazu Town on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, bloom before the rest of the country.2As the new moon arrives, deep pink flowers begin to bloom all over the peninsula, attracting many tourists to the area.

Izunoharu is in season around the time when the Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom.JAThis is the brand name of Fuji Izu. The official variety name is "Haruhi."

Heisei3It was founded in 1989 at the Okitsu Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Fruit Tree Experiment Station in Shizuoka City (then) and23It was registered as a variety in 2000.24Cultivation began in Kawazu Town and Higashiizu Town in 2010.

 "Izunoharu has just begun planting.12It is a new citrus fruit, about 2000 years old. When there were only a few dozen seedlings, a committee was formed to develop it into a production area, and now4000~5000I even grew a book.”

The person who taught me that wasJAAkihiro Tsuchiya, Director of the Fujiizu Higashiizu Agricultural and Economic Center.

The shipping cardboard box features an illustration of golden yellow fruit and Kawazu cherry blossoms, along with the words "Citrus fruits of the beginning of spring, Izunoharu." This is a perfect catchphrase for citrus fruits, which come into season around the same time as Kawazu cherry blossoms and herald the beginning of spring.

On this day, we visited Tsunehira Tsuchiya's farm in Kawazu Town.3Tsunehira, the next generation owner,15I retired a year ago and took over the family business. Currently, we cultivate a variety of fruits, including Izunoharu, Amanatsu, and New Summer Orange.

And surprisingly, the person who named "Izunoharu" was Tsunehei Tsuchiya himself.

"The committee held a public contest and my proposal was selected. I named it 'Izunoharu' with the idea that it is a citrus fruit that can be enjoyed together with Kawazu cherry blossoms."

It was chosen as it was perfect as it coincides with the time when Kawazu cherry blossoms bloom. The reason for using hiragana instead of kanji is to emphasize familiarity. The soft sound makes you feel the arrival of spring.

"There's always something going on all year round. After the harvest, we spread fertilizer and cut the branches.5When the flowers bloom in the moon, adjust the number of fruits and cover each one with a bag.……That's how they grow," says Tsunehira.

The secret to making delicious Izunoharu is to spare no effort and continue to work carefully.

When harvesting, the branches are cut twice to avoid damaging the fruit, a method known as "double cutting." This meticulous handiwork ensures reliable quality.

In fact, Tsunehira and Akihiro are father and son. Although they are in different positions, they share the same desire to spread the word about "Izunoharu."JAAkihiro, who works part-time and helps his father in the fields on his days off, says:

"We hold study sessions in our department and continue to work to improve quality.JAI would also be happy to help spread the word about Izunoharu together with producers and the people of the town."

Heisei28"Izunoharu" which began selling in 201630In 2015, it was certified as a Shizuoka Prefecture brand "Itadaki" (Shizuoka Food Selection). In recent years, it has been featured at the Tamagawa Takashimaya department store in Futako Tamagawa, Tokyo.S・CThe number of fans is increasing outside the prefecture, with the ``Izunoharu & Benihoppe Fair'' held every year.

 On the day of the interview, in Kawazu TownJAWhen I visited the Fuji Izu Citrus First Co-Sorting Center, I saw piles of "Izunoharu" delivered by producers in green containers.2Selection will be carried out once.

First, each piece is inspected by hand to check for scratches and other damage before being sent to the machine.

 Next, they are sent to a sorting line where cameras are waiting to instantly identify the fish based on their appearance, color, and size.

The line continues on to the optical sensor section, where light is shone onto the fruit as it flows down the conveyor belt, instantly measuring its sugar and acidity without the need to peel it.

"We use the power of light to accurately examine the contents of Izunoharu, which has been carefully cultivated by farmers," says Akihiro.

The vast common sorting area is made up of a complex web of lanes. It's a truly spectacular sight to watch as the fruit is automatically sorted by grade and size!

When passing through the sensor3They are sorted into ranks and placed in their respective boxes.

Among them, the highest grade (Akashu) has a sugar content of12Only high-quality fruit is sent to the market as "Izunoharu."

"The appeal of Izunoharu is that it is about the same size as a Satsuma mandarin, has very soft skin, and is packed with juice," says Akihiro.

Thanks to this softness, you can peel it by hand without using a knife. The ease of being able to enjoy it on the spot whenever you feel like eating it is also one of the reasons for its popularity.

If you are going to cut them with a knife, there is a little trick. Because they have many seeds and the clusters are firm, we recommend cutting them vertically (cluster cut, or comb cut) rather than horizontally (smile cut). This cut method makes them much easier to eat.

And we highly recommend trying their freshly squeezed juice. Because Izunoharu has a lot of juice, the first sip of freshly squeezed juice is truly impressive. You can enjoy the luxurious taste, which is tightly condensed with rich sweetness and refreshing acidity.

The harvest1From the end of the month2The peak shipping period is from mid-March to mid-October.2from mid-month2It will run until the end of the month, coinciding with the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.

"We want to carefully nurture the agricultural cooperative brand as a citrus fruit that can be enjoyed alongside Kawazu cherry blossoms," says the Tsuchiya father and son enthusiastically.

During this time, Izunoharu can be purchased at major supermarkets in Kawazu Town and eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, as well as at the direct sales store "Korashe" at Izu Inatori Fishing Port in Higashiizu Town. Enjoy the taste of in-season Izunoharu while admiring the Kawazu cherry blossoms in full bloom. Be sure to experience this unique springtime experience in Izu.