Tohoku gourmet

[Fukushima Prefecture] Have an impressive “peaches” experience! Introducing recommended direct sales stores and varieties recommended by locals

Peaches are a popular specialty of Fukushima Prefecture . In recent years, they have been featured frequently in the media and have become a famous brand fruit known throughout the country.

With their unique texture, juicy flavor, melting sweetness, and smiles that will bring joy to your face, Fukushima peaches , but where do the locals get them? Here, we'll introduce you to the peach situation in Fukushima Prefecture and some helpful shopping information.

This summer, be sure to experience the amazing peach blossoms in Fukushima

What are the characteristics, season, and origin of Fukushima Prefecture's famous peach?

peach

Just being nearby brings with it a soft, sweet, and lovely fragrance. When the peaches are in their prime, Fukushima is dyed pink all over

Fukushima peaches are characterized by their firm flesh. You can wait until they are ripe and soft before eating them, but we recommend eating them when they are still firm and freshly picked. The unique texture of a "firm peach" may be a bit surprising for first-timers. However, once you get hooked, you'll be hooked. Soft and soft just won't be enough. It's a fascinating fruit that is sure to become addictive

Peaches from Fukushima Prefecture begin to be shipped from late June. The shipment of the slightly smaller variety " Hatsuhime Akatsuki a variety that has become popular in recent years , begins shipping from late July and can be enjoyed until early August.

The most famous production area is the northern Nakadori region of Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima City has a fruit line with fruit farms, Koori Town is known as the home of tribute peaches, Date City has several agricultural produce sales outlets, and Kunimi Town is one of the largest producers in the country. Peaches are a very delicate fruit, and it is only in this area that you can enjoy the freshness of freshly picked peaches. The special taste is sure to become a memory of your trip

Where to buy Fukushima peaches? 3 direct sales stores chosen by locals

When you think of places to buy fruit, you might generally think of supermarkets or greengrocers. However, the peach situation in Fukushima, the fruit kingdom, is a little different. Locals buy a lot of peaches during the season because, in addition to peaches to eat at home, they also need peaches to give as gifts

Peaches, which are in season in the summer, are perfect for mid-year gifts. For this reason, it has long been customary to send peaches by courier to relatives and acquaintances both within and outside the prefecture. When peach season arrives, shopping spots in peach-producing areas are bustling with long lines every day. It is not uncommon to see one person buying five or six boxes. Depending on the location and time of year, there may be a limit on the number of boxes you can buy. And you should be prepared to be unable to buy any unless you arrive before the store opens

So where do the locals who are used to buying peaches buy them? We'll introduce three places

Direct sales store attached to the sorting facility

Akatsuki
Akatsuki

A long-standing staple has been the direct sales space attached to the sorting facility (common sorting facility). An example of such a facility is shown below

JA Fukushima Mirai Hirano Fruit Sorting Facility (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 8-banchi Hiranodonomae, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0231
  • Phone number: 024-542-2394
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Yuno Co-selection Center (Fukushima City)

  • Address: JA Fukushima Future Iizaka Agricultural Center, 1-1 Yunodanakamae, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0211
  • Phone number: 024-542-6278
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Hobara Agricultural Center (Date City)

  • Address: 222 Hashida Hasada, Hobara-cho, Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0662
  • Phone number: 024-575-0336
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Koori Agricultural Center (Kori Town)

  • Address: 28 Tate, Koori-machi, Date-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, 969-1616
  • Phone number: 024-582-2272
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Kunimi Agricultural Center (Kunimi Town)

  • Address: 17-2 Moriyama Nishiueno, Kunimi-machi, Date-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, 969-1731
  • Phone number: 024-585-2660
  • View Google Maps

The advantage of the direct sales space attached to the sorting center is that you can sometimes get non-standard peaches called " hane peaches " at surprisingly low prices. Even if they are a little small or have scratches or scuffs, they still taste delicious! They are good enough to eat at home. However, hane peaches are not very common among peaches overall, so there are limited numbers. Please note that you will be lucky if you can get your hands on them.

Direct sales store run by an orchard

This is another classic example of a sales outlet directly operated by an orchard. In particular, Fukushima City's " Fruit Line " is lined with tourist orchards on both sides of the road, and there are also a number of sales outlets directly operated by fruit farmers. An example of such a facility is shown below.

Marusei Orchard (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 50-1 Hiranomorimae, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0231
  • Phone number: 024-542-0679
  • View Google Maps

Marusho Orchard (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 10 Hiranokamidan, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0231
  • Phone number: 024-542-2957
  • View Google Maps

Marukaen (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 24 Hirano Kaido Kita, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0231
  • Phone number: 024-542-7812
  • View Google Maps

Azuma Orchard (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 1-13 Hirano Nishihara, Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0231
  • Phone number: 024-542-1460
  • View Google Maps

Marue Tourist Orchard (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 3-3 Ozasao Onikoshiyama, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0251
  • Phone number: 024-558-0516
  • View Google Maps

The biggest advantage of buying from a direct sales store run by an orchard is the freshness. Peach professionals will advise you on the best time to buy and how to choose delicious peaches. Some orchards also offer peach picking plans and have fruit cafes, so it's a good idea to use both. Be sure to enjoy the freshly picked taste

General agricultural product direct sales store

Peaches are also available at JA Fukushima Mirai's agricultural produce sales outlets, which are open to the general public year-round. Here is an example of one such facility

JA Fukushima Mirai Kokora Agatsuma Store (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 1-1 Yakushida, Zaiwazaka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-2262
  • Phone number: 024-592-1088
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Kokora Shimizu Store (Fukushima City)

  • Address: 7-3 Minamizawamata Maeda, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-8254
  • Phone number: 024-555-6641
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Hyakkakan Nmebe (Date City)

  • Address: Yukigurumacho, Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0412
  • Phone number: 024-551-2223
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Future Agricultural Products Direct Sales Center Koransho Market (Date City)

  • Address: 5-1 Shimonozaki, Hobara-cho, Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, 960-0672
  • Phone number: 024-575-3859
  • View Google Maps

JA Fukushima Mirai Kuwaori Fresh Box (Kuwaori Town)

  • Address: 28 Tate, Koori-machi, Date-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, 969-1616
  • Phone number: 024-582-2301
  • View Google Maps

The advantage of shopping at JA agricultural produce stores is that you can also purchase other agricultural products. Fukushima's summer is packed with shiny vegetables and fruits. Why not enjoy the fresh bounty of the fields, nurtured by the rich soil, along with peaches?

Recommended peach varieties and how to identify delicious peaches

Although peaches are generally referred to as such, there are many different varieties, so when you see multiple varieties lined up, it can be hard to decide which one to buy. Here, we will introduce three recommended varieties, and at the end, we will also explain how to identify delicious peaches

Recommended variety 1: "Akatsuki"

Akatsuki is Fukushima's flagship peach variety, and has established a solid reputation. Its firm flesh and abundant juice make it the epitome of a peach that's delicious when eaten firm. You'll want to bite into a chilled Akatsuki, savor its juicy juice, and drown in its deliciousness. It's shipped from late July to early August, so it's a treat only available for a short time each year

Recommended variety 2: "Madoka"

"Madoka" is a variety developed in Yamagata Prefecture. It is characterized by its red flesh that is dyed all the way through to the inside and its strong fragrance. The flesh is firm and sturdy. It is shipped from mid-August to early September

Recommended variety 3: "Yuzora"

"Yuzora" is characterized by its firm texture and smooth mouthfeel. It is shipped from late August to early September. It is a peach with a mild sweetness and little acidity

How can you tell if a peach is delicious?

When buying peaches, you want to choose ones that are at least a little tasty. Peaches that have the following characteristics are said to have a high probability of being delicious

  • White dots on the surface
  • Symmetrical
  • Dark skin color
  • Lots of fine hair
  • Plump and round

While this may vary depending on the variety, peaches with the above characteristics are likely to be rich in nutrients and have a rich sweetness. Please use this as a reference when shopping

summary

This time we talked about the situation regarding Fukushima peaches

In Fukushima, the kingdom of fruit, direct sales outlets and stores are bustling every day during the season. They are overflowing with people looking to buy fresh peaches. However, Fukushima peaches are so delicious that it's worth waiting in line to buy them. The crispness of freshly picked peaches is something you can only get in the region where they are grown. We encourage you to try Fukushima peaches the Fukushima way: "eat them while they're still firm."

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