Not only winter! Challenge of "Natsu and Autumn Strawberry" from Nagano Prefecture

Strawberries loved by young and old with bright red fruit and sweet and sour flavor. Cultivation has the image of winter, but do you know that it is actually made in hot summer months? "Summer Autumn Strawberry", which can be harvested from summer to autumn, has relyed on imports a few years ago, but in recent years, cultivation has been growing mainly in cool areas in Japan, and it is increasing here and here. 。 Introducing the summer and autumn strawberries farmers, which are also increasingly delicious due to breeding.

Make a summer and autumn strawberry that remains in the "heart" of people in Azumino

At its peak, Kazuki (right) and Natsuko (left) say that their work continues without a break from early morning to evening, but "Life in Azumino is the best".

Nat's Berry Field / Nuts Berry Field (Azumino City)
Kazuki Yoshitake, Natsuko

Determined to migrate to raise summer and autumn strawberries
Azumino City has clear water and rich soil flowing from the magnificent Northern Alps. Taking advantage of its blessed environment, it is famous as a major wasabi production area, but it is one of Japan's leading summer and autumn strawberries.
Kazuki Yoshitake and Mrs. Natsuko have moved to this area four years ago to raise summer and autumn strawberries.

"When I was looking for a destination around the place where I could cultivate summer and autumn strawberries, I met Azumino's" Samperrinkuses "and decided to migrate to make this delicious strawberry with a good balance of sweetness and sourness." Mr. Miss. As the aging of agriculture was aging, the fact that many young generations in their 30s and 40s were employed, and the environment where they could learn about summer and autumn strawberry cultivation was also a decisive factor in immigration.

After training for a year under a farmer who has grown Samai Princess for many years, "Nuts Berry Field" was launched three years ago. Now, at a house of 15 ares, three types of "Samar Princess", "Summer Rikuri", and "Nobudai BS8-9 (Nutsbury)" ( *), which were born in Nagano Prefecture, were "Suzu Akane" and "Petikaeber". We cultivate 5 varieties added.

Thinking of Samar Princess

With the desire to feel more familiar with Azumino's summer and autumn strawberries, we have also started selling "home strawberries" that can be enjoyed at home. It can be purchased at the farm and online shop "HAGUHAND".

Most of the farmers who start cultivating new summer and autumn strawberry cultivation in Azumino City have begun cultivation from "Samai Princess" for a year while cultivation starts from "Suzu Akane", which can be produced stably. The eyes seemed to only make this one variety.
"Samar Princess" is known as a variety that has a weaker sweetness and a thin summer and autumn strawberry compared to winter strawberries. On the other hand, there are aspects where cultivation and stable supply are difficult. Summer and autumn strawberries have a peak of two hires from June to July and September to October, but in the Azumino area, it is difficult to harvest the autumn "Samar Princess" due to climate conditions, and the white part remains when long rain continues. The phenomenon of "white crack" that does not turn red is likely to occur.
Nevertheless, "I want to keep making" Samar Princess ", which has been triggered by immigration, but has triggered me to make the" Samar Princess ".

Azumino summer and autumn strawberries are brand strawberries

Mountains of the Northern Alps seen from the field. There are about 50 summer and autumn strawberries farmers in the city, and the number is increasing year by year.

The harvest season of the summer and autumn strawberry covers the wedding season, especially in September to October, and is often shipped for business use, such as hotels, confectionery stores and bakery shops. Strawberries of "Nuts Berry Field" are mainly shipped to the Kansai market through JA Azumi. The ones that look bad are sold into jams for each variety in -house. You can enjoy the difference in the taste of each variety.

"In the future, I would like to spread Azumino's summer and autumn strawberries into a brand strawberry that is known all over the country, so I would like to send it widely to consumers who are end users. Natsuko says that Azumino can contribute a little. " In addition to the cultivation of new varieties, we will keep an eye on the future development of Yoshitake and his wife, who have a dream of having their own shops in the farm.

Part of the processed product Ginza NAGANO But on sale! "Adult jam" is perfect for meat dishes.

"Suzu Akane" and "Petikaeber" are 40 %, and "Samar Princess", "Summer Rikuri", and "Nutsberry" are cultivated.
"Summer Rikuri", a variety that has overcome the weaknesses of "Samai Princess", is planned to increase production last year, 200 bottles this year, and one next year.

* "Nobudai BS8-9" is produced under a variety of brand names, and "Nuts Berry Field" is produced under the name "Nuts Berry".

[Nat's Berry Field]
Azumino City 3864 TEL 0263-75-3097

Aiming for strawberry cultivation through agricultural collaboration

The "Nobudai BS8-9", which has the most reddish color, is perfect for toppings to cakes.

Kotobuki Farm Depot Co., Ltd. (Komoro City)
Mr. Yasushi Ishizaka (Yasushi) Business Promotion Division Manager

Komoro City's first "Nobudai BS8-9"

According to one theory, Komoro City, which is said to be the birthplace of strawberry production. Around the Meiji era, wild strawberries were found in Makigahara in the city, and the strawberry jam came from the West, and the cultivation was settled with jam strawberries and cultivation was established.

Kotobuki Farm Depot Co., Ltd. was established in Komoro City in June 2019. Through agriculture, we are growing mainly summer and autumn strawberries and blueberries, aiming to create a more delicious and more positive everyday life. There is a house of 10 arenes of 2 buildings, and in March of this year, Komoro City has planted and launched about 5,000 Shingai BS8-9, which is the first share of about 5,000 shares.

Honeybees are flying in the house, and pollination is being polluted in a natural way.

"Nobudai BS8-9" is a summer and autumn strawberry, which was researched and developed by a special professor of Michio Oi of Shinshu University's Faculty of Engineering in the early Heisei period and was registered in variety in 2011. It keeps a high sugar content even at the high temperature of summer, has a good balance of sweetness and acidity, and has a good shape for business use, and is a popular variety of patissier.

Cultivation under guidance from Professor Oi

"I want to grow a strawberry that is said to be called" Komoro has this strawberry ". For that reason, Mr. Ishizaka says that the locals will know the goodness of this strawberry," says Ishizaka.

At Kotobuki Farm Depot, we have been preparing for cultivation, such as learning the know-how of cultivation of "Nobudai BS8-9" since last year. Currently, only three people, Mr. Ishizaka, the president, managing director, and the director of the field, have no agricultural experience until last year. Inexperienced quality control is thoroughly managed, and Professor Oi, the creator of the Shinodai BS8-9, reported the production status and numbers such as hydrogen ion index (pH) on the 365th. If there are any abnormalities in the numbers, Professor Oi will rush to the field. Still, the struggle is constant because the shape is not equal or the taste is not stable, but "Professor Oi is really helpful because it will be a research" because it will also be my own research. " Ishizaka says.

The harvest of "Nobudai BS8-9", which began in June, in a groping state. Mr. Ishizaka goes to work at around 4:00 every morning and harvests about 30-40 kg of strawberries a day until around 6 o'clock.

Support for the elderly by agricultural and public collaboration

The field is located in a small area of Komoro City, and you can see Mt. Fuji on Yatsugatake and sunny days.

The main ships of Kotobuki Farm Depot are Komoro City, nearby Karuizawa -cho, Saku City's confectionery shop, Japanese confectionery, and hotels. "Currently, we are also developing semi -dried fruits in joint research with Nagano Prefectural Industrial Technology Center, and developing ice cream and gelato in collaboration with businesses in Nagano City, and we want to realize processed products. "Ishizaka -san.

In the future, in collaboration with Kotobuki Co., Ltd., which operates paid elderly facilities at the parent company, by "Agricultural Cooperation", which is an initiative to realize social participation with the purpose of the elderly and others in the agricultural field. It seems that production will be advanced. "As part of the support of day service users, I want them to work on planting, daily management, harvesting, and selling, and wants them to feel worthwhile and rewarding through their work and salary." I have such thoughts.
The challenge for Kotobuki Farm Depot's "Realization of Agriculture and Great Cooperation through Delicious Strawberry Making" has just begun.

The concentration of fertilizer and the timing of fertilization are managed by the machine, and liquid fertilizer is applied through pipes 3-4 times a day. (Left photo)
In the "seasonal -intense variety" strawberries, the longer the sunshine hours, the differentiation of flower buds and the higher the yield, so the house is slightly illuminated at night. (Right photo)

> [Kotobuki Farm Depot Co., Ltd.]
790-15 TEL 0267-23-1510 Komoro City

Nagano Prefecture and summer and autumn strawberries

Strawberries are broadly divided into "seasonal varieties", which are reached from winter to spring, and "seasonal -integrated varieties" that can be cultivated throughout the year, and are produced from June to November of the "seasonal variety". The general term for Rui Strawberries is "Summer and Autumn Strawberry".
In Nagano Prefecture, summer and autumn strawberry cultivation began around 2001, and in 2003, the development of the Nanshin Agricultural Experiment (then) was developed, and cultivation gradually expanded. The development of new species by the government, the people, and the learning, such as the development of "Summer Rikuri" developed in 2018 as the successor to "Samar Princess" and the "Nobudai BS8-9" developed in 2018 as the successor to the "Samar Princess". It is being done.

This article is information as of September 2020.
Please note that products handled are subject to change.