This time, I visited "JA Namegata Shiosai Agricultural Products Direct Sales Office Raku-go" on a weekday afternoon. It sounds like a hometown where you can enjoy eating. Or, as the name suggests, is there rakkyo (pickled scallions)?
The store is bustling with activity. I can't help but pay attention to what other customers are buying. I often find myself reaching for products that seem to be bought by regulars.
Yes, there it was. Rakkyo. To be precise, it's called "eschalot," which is rakkyo harvested young after a change in cultivation method to lengthen the blanched part. Just dipping it in miso makes a great snack for drinks. It's not just grilled squid that makes a good snack. Eschalot with miso is also good. Namegata City boasts a top-class production volume of eschalots and is designated as a branded produce region of Ibaraki Prefecture.
At direct sales stores, you encounter unexpected things. It's like finding a rhinoceros beetle when you suddenly look at a tree while taking a walk. It's exciting, isn't it?
Oh, it's there. So exciting. Of course, it must be seasonal.
On the other hand, did you know that Namegata City has a crop that can be enjoyed year-round, with consistent quality, no matter the season? That's sweet potatoes.
Namegata City is one of the leading sweet potato producing areas in Japan, and the JA Namegata Shiosai Sweet Potato Division Liaison Council received the 56th Imperial Cup at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Festival. For Antlers, the Emperor's Cup is a prestigious award they have won many times, but there is also an Emperor's Cup in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The Emperor's Cup was awarded in recognition of their "baked sweet potato" strategy to revitalize the region by competing on taste, and their various research and initiatives to improve farmers' incomes.
The "baked sweet potato" strategy involves a year-round relay shipment of three varieties (Beni Kogane, Beni Masari, and Beni Yuukama) that are suitable for shipment at different times, ensuring a stable supply. This allows Raku-go to sell baked sweet potatoes throughout the year. Let's try one right away.
It's nicely baked. Why is the aroma of baked sweet potatoes so captivating?
Currently, it's aged Beni Kogane. The saccharification has progressed, making it moist, sweet, and delicious. Curing, a freshness preservation technique, also supports the stable supply. New sweet potatoes, "Beni Yuukama," are scheduled to be shipped from September, so I definitely want to try them again then.
The JA Namegata Shiosai Sweet Potato Division Liaison Council received the Emperor's Cup in recognition of their dedication to sweet potato cultivation under the motto "Choose the land, polish the skills, and create with heart." At the direct sales store, you can directly experience the crops made with such dedication.
Indeed, a direct sales store is a microcosm of the region.
Text and Photos: Sekiguchi (Regional Collaboration Team)
JA Namegata Shiosai Agricultural Products Direct Sales Office Raku-go
1824 Tamatsukuri Ko, Namegata City, Ibaraki Prefecture
TEL 0299-55-4441