[Okitama area, Yamagata prefecture] Delaware is a small grape but extremely sweet. Okitama area in Yamagata Prefecture has the highest production volume in Japan!

When we think of grapes, we associate them with autumn fruits, but did you know that there are some delicious grapes that reach their peak season around the Obon period in August?

In the Okitama area, where grape cultivation is popular, there are many farmers who grow several types of grapes, including Muscat, which is said to be a high-quality grape.

Among them, Takahata Town and Nanyo City in particular are number one in the nation in producing small, sweet Delaware. The peak shipping season for Delaware is the hot month of August, which is currently at its peak.

In this article, we will introduce what kind of grape Delaware is and the secret behind its enduring popularity.

What kind of grape is Delaware?

To begin with, there are many varieties of grapes, and it is said that there are currently 50 to 60 varieties on the Japanese market. There are over 100 types, including rare ones . There are also varieties that are specifically made for wine.

It is said that there are more than 10,000 types of grapes in the world, and the number of grape varieties continues to increase.

Among them, Delaware is a popular grape because it is small, sweet, and has no seeds, making it easy to eat and suitable for everyone, from children to the elderly.

Yamagata Prefecture has been growing grapes since the Edo period!

Yamagata Prefecture has a long history of grape cultivation, having been practiced since the Edo period.

It is said that Delaware was introduced to Japan from the United States around 1890. After Delaware was introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, efforts were made to cultivate Delaware grapes, especially in Takahata Town and Nanyo City.

Among them, the Tokisawa district of Takabatake Town has become a major producer of Delaware grapes, recognized both within and outside the prefecture, and their sweet and small grains have made them very popular, and demand has increased explosively.

Its popularity waned for a while...

High-quality grapes such as Kyoho and Muscat, which are large and satisfying to eat, have become popular, while the small-grained Delaware grapes are lacking in texture and appearance, and demand has halved compared to when it was popular.

Accordingly, many farmers switched from growing Delaware grapes to growing large, high-quality grapes.

Popularity is back! Has increasing size brought back popularity?

Delaware grapes are uniquely sweet and seedless! Is it even smaller and easier to eat? Although it is known for its seeds, it originally had seeds.

“In a fruit, pollen attaches to the stigma of the pistil and is pollinated, forming a seed in the ovary, which swells and becomes a fruit.However, even if grapes are not pollinated, they can be soaked in gibberellin solution. The result is seedless grapes because they are not pollinated .

Source: https://www.ajfarm.com/2559/

Although it was popular because it was easy to eat because it was small and seedless, it lost attention because it was overtaken by large and high-quality grapes.

evolved it into a medium-sized Delaware that has the same taste but is easy to eat

As a result, they are now showing signs of a resurgence in popularity as they are easy to eat for everyone from small children to the elderly and are just the right size.

They also serve school lunches at local elementary schools, and the children seem to love them.

There are also spots nearby where you can enjoy fishing!

You can also rent bicycles at the nearest station, Takahata Station, so you can enjoy cycling while admiring the vineyards.

If you continue on your way, you will see Lake Hirusawa. "Lake Hirusawa" is a popular spot among fishing enthusiasts.

Construction began in 1933, and it took 13 years and a total of 400,000 people to complete the artificial lake (Hirusawa Reservoir) with an area of ​​25 hectares for irrigation.
The lake, filled with spring water from melting snow, is beautiful in harmony with the greenery of the pine trees and the strangely shaped rocks that rise along the shore. A forest park has been built to the west, and a hiking trail between Lake Hirusawa and Kannon Rock has been created, making it a popular hiking course. It is also the terminus of the wide-area bicycle road between Yonezawa and Takahata, and you can also enjoy cycling from Takahata Station.

Source: https://yamagatakanko.com/

Lake Hirusawa＜Information＞

• Address: Akutsu Hirasawa, Takahata-machi, Yamagata Prefecture
• Access: 20 minutes by car from Takahata Station or 60 minutes by rental bicycle from Takahata Station
• Parking: Yes
• Maximum depth: 21m
• Above sea level: 300m
• Types of fish: carp, carp, carp
• Inquiries: Takahata Town Tourism Association phone number 0238-57-3844

GOOGLE MAP

summary

Delaware grapes, which can be seen in stores from midsummer onwards, have been actively cultivated since the Meiji era, and the Tokisawa district of Takabatake Town in Yamagata Prefecture is known nationwide as one of the largest producers of Delaware grapes.

The secret to its popularity is that it is small and easy to eat for everyone from small children to the elderly. Since then, it has been overtaken by large, high-quality grapes, but thanks to the efforts to improve the variety to medium-sized grapes, it has recently regained popularity.

Takahata Town also has a direct grape sales store where you can find delicious grapes, and if you go a little further you can also see a spacious lake. It might be a good idea to visit roads that are suitable for cycling.