Yamagata Fruit Kingdom
Yamagata Prefecture is known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the reason for this is its rich natural environment and the cultivation techniques it has developed over many years. The temperature difference between day and night, which is unique to the basin, increases the sugar content of fruits, providing an ideal environment for growing sweet fruits. Another characteristic is that the amount of precipitation during the rainy season is relatively low, making it easy to maintain the quality of the fruits.
Cherries
Cherry
Yamagata Prefecture is known as the number one cherry producing region in Japan. Approximately 70% of the cherries in the country are produced in Yamagata Prefecture, with Higashine City, Tendo City, and Sagae City being the main producing areas.
Cherry cultivation in Yamagata began in 1875. At the time, cherry cultivation was being attempted all over the country, but Yamagata's climate was suitable for it, making it a success, and it has continued to develop to the present day.
Representative varieties include Sato-Nishiki, with its perfect balance of sweetness and sourness, and Benishuho, which is large and richly sweet. Recently, Yamagata Benio, a large variety that is larger than a 500 yen coin, has also been attracting attention.
Cherry harvesting takes place from late May to July, and visitors can enjoy cherry picking at tourist orchards. Fresh cherries are also available at local direct sales stores, and are popular as gifts.
Thanks to many years of selective breeding and improvements in cultivation techniques , Yamagata's fruits are highly regarded nationwide. For example, "Sato Nishiki" is a high-quality cherry that took about 15 years to develop, and is popular for its rich sweetness and juicy texture. Fruit orchards and tourist farms are being developed in the region, and fruit culture is taking root.
02.
Accumulation of historical technology
Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan's leading fruit producing regions , producing cherries at about 70% of the national production, and La France pears at about 80% of the national production. A wide variety of fruits are also grown, including grapes, apples, persimmons, melons, and watermelons, allowing you to enjoy different fruits in each season.
01
Top-class production
Yamagata Prefecture has many basins, and the large temperature difference between day and night increases the sugar content of fruits, resulting in a rich sweetness. In addition, the low amount of precipitation during the rainy season creates an environment that makes it easy to maintain the quality of fruits.
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Benefiting from the climate and terrain
La France
France
Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of La France pears in Japan, accounting for approximately 80% of the national production. This pear is also known as the "Queen of Fruits" and is characterized by its melting texture and rich sweetness.
The temperature difference between day and night in Yamagata brings out the sweetness and flavor of the fruit, creating a rich, full-bodied taste. After harvest, the fruit is "pre-cooled" for a certain period of time, and then "ripened" further, which makes it even sweeter and gives it a smooth texture.
In addition, Yamagata Prefecture has set a unified sales start date and ships La France at the optimal state of ripeness, so you can enjoy delicious La France no matter what time of year you purchase it.
Its rich aroma and juicy flavor are enjoyed not only fresh, but also in a variety of forms, such as jams, sweets, and drinks.
Be sure to try La France, packed with the bounty of Yamagata.
apple
Apple
Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan's leading apple producing regions, ranking third in national production.
In particular, Asahi Town was the first in the country to introduce bag-free Fuji apples (Sun Fuji) in 1970, and has since produced sweet, juicy apples that are bathed in plenty of sunlight.
Yamagata Prefecture apples are characterized by their high sugar content and rich flavor, due to the climate with large temperature differences between day and night.
Representative varieties include Fuji, which has a good balance of sweetness and sourness, Shinano Sweet, which has a refreshing sweetness, Shuyo, which has a rich flavor, and Ourin, which has a mellow aroma.
Yamagata Prefecture also has a wide range of apple-related tourism and specialty products, and offers unique ways to enjoy apples, such as picking them in orchards and "apple hot springs," where apples float in the water.
yellow peach
Yellow Peach
Yamagata Prefecture is known for producing yellow peaches, which are especially valued for their high quality. Yellow peaches have firmer flesh than white peaches and are characterized by their rich sweetness and mellow fragrance.
Yamagata's climate with its large temperature differences increases the sugar content of the fruit, creating a deep flavor.
Representative varieties include Golden Peach, which has a rich mango-like sweetness and smooth texture, Koukihi, which is juicy and has a tropical flavor, and Kougetsu, a late-ripening variety with firm flesh and sweetness. In the past, they were cultivated for canning, but nowadays, many high-quality yellow peaches are produced for eating raw.
The season is from August to October, with harvest times varying depending on the variety. You can enjoy picking peaches at the orchards, and fresh peaches delivered directly from the farm are available at the market.
Be sure to try the sweetness and flavor of these yellow peaches, packed with the bounty of Yamagata.
White peach
White Peach
Yamagata Prefecture's white peaches are characterized by their sweetness and firm flesh, due to the large temperature difference between day and night. Varieties such as "Akatsuki" and "Kawanakajima White Peach" are particularly popular and are highly regarded as gifts.
Yamagata Prefecture's white peaches are harvested later than other producing areas, from late July to early October. Late varieties such as "Miharu White Peach" and "Aozora Musume" are harvested from September onwards and are known for their rich sweetness and smooth texture.
Yamagata Prefecture also pays close attention to quality control, and only peaches that pass strict inspections at a light sensor sorting facility are shipped to the market. Furthermore, if it rains, the harvest is postponed and harvested when the sweetness has returned.
The best way to eat white peaches is to chill them lightly in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before eating, which will bring out their sweetness. However, be careful not to chill them too much, as this will reduce their sweetness.
