[Okitama Region, Yamagata Prefecture] Delaware grapes are small but exceptionally sweet. The Okitama region of Yamagata Prefecture is the top producer of Delaware grapes in Japan!

Grapes are often thought of as an autumn fruit, but did you know that there are delicious grapes that reach their peak around the Obon festival in August?

In the Okitama region, where grape cultivation is thriving, there are many farmers who produce several types of grapes, including Muscat, which is known as a high-quality grape

Among them, Takahata Town and Nanyo City are the top producers of small, sweet Delaware apples in the nation. The peak shipping season for Delaware apples is in the hottest month of August, and they are currently in their prime

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

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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. If rare varieties are included, the number may exceed 100. Among these varieties, there are also varieties that are specialized for making wine.

It is said that there are more than 10,000 varieties of grapes in the world, and it seems that grape breeding continues to increase

Among them, Delaware grapes are small, sweet, and seedless, making them popular as a grape suitable for everyone, from children to the elderly, as they are easy to eat

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Yamagata Prefecture has been cultivating grapes since the Edo period!

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

It seems that Delaware grapes were introduced to Japan from America around 1872. After Delaware grapes were introduced to Japan during the Meiji period, efforts were made to cultivate Delaware grapes, especially in Takahata Town and Nanyo City

Among these, the Tokizawa district of Takahata Town has become a major producer of Delaware grapes, recognized both within and outside the prefecture.Due to their sweetness and small size, they have become extremely popular, and demand has apparently exploded

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Its popularity waned for a while..

High-quality grapes such as Kyoho and Muscat, which are large and satisfying to eat, have become popular, and the small Delaware grapes have been seen as lacking in both taste and appearance, so demand has halved compared to when they were popular

In response to this, many farmers switched from growing Delaware grapes to growing large, high-quality grapes

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It's back in popularity! Has the increased size brought it back?

Delaware grapes are known for their sweetness, seedlessness, and small size, making them easy to eat, but they originally had seeds

"Fruits are formed when pollen attaches to the stigma of the pistil and fertilizes it, causing seeds to form in the ovary, which then swells and becomes a fruit. However, grapes can produce fruit without pollination by soaking the bunches in a gibberellin solution. As a result, seedless grapes are produced because they are not pollinated ."

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

They were popular because they were small and painstakingly grown, but seedless and easy to eat, but they have since fallen out of favor with larger, higher-quality grapes

made repeated improvements to evolve the Delaware into a medium-sized grain that is satisfying to eat while maintaining the same flavor

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

It is also served in school lunches at local elementary schools and is apparently very popular with the children

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There are also spots nearby where you can enjoy fishing!

You can also rent bicycles at the nearest Takahata Station, so you can enjoy cycling while looking out at the vineyards

If you continue on, you will see Lake Hiruzawa, a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts

Construction began in 1936 and took 13 years and 400,000 people to complete this artificial irrigation lake (Hiruzawa Reservoir), with a surface area of ​​25 hectares. Filled with spring meltwater, the lake harmonizes beautifully with the towering, strangely shaped rocks and green pine trees on its shores.
A forest park is located in the far west, and the Hiruzawa Lake-Kannoniwa Promenade has been constructed, making it a popular hiking trail. It is also the terminus of the wide-area bicycle road between Yonezawa and Takahata, so you can enjoy cycling from Takahata Station.

Source: https://yamagatakanko.com/

Lake Hiruzawa <Information>

• Address: Akutsu Hiruzawa, Takahata-cho, Yamagata Prefecture
• Access: 20 minutes by car from Takahata Station or 60 minutes by rental bicycle from Takahata Station
• Parking: Available
• Maximum depth: 21m
• Altitude: 300m
• Types of fish: carp, crucian carp, crucian carp
• Inquiries: Takahata Town Tourism Association Phone number: 0238-57-3844

GOOGLE MAP

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summary

Delaware grapes, which start appearing in store shelves from midsummer, have been cultivated extensively since the Meiji era, and the Tokizawa district of Takahata Town in Yamagata Prefecture is known nationwide as a major producer of Delaware grapes

The secret to its popularity was its small size, which made it easy for everyone from small children to the elderly to eat. Since then, it has been somewhat overshadowed by larger, higher-quality grapes, but thanks to the success of breeding to medium-sized grapes, it has recently regained popularity

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

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