[Fukushima Prefecture] "The best peach of my life": What are the Fukushima peaches that were the talk of the Olympics?

Some people may remember that the peaches from Fukushima Prefecture served at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics became a hot topic, with people describing them as "the best peaches of their lives."

"I ate six Fukushima peaches. They were delicious," said the manager of the US team that played in the Olympic softball games in Fukushima Prefecture

Another incident that drew attention was when 30 kilograms of Akatsuki peaches were donated to the Japan and Dominican Republic national baseball teams, but they were quickly gone, so another 30 kilograms were added

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Fukushima Prefecture PeachesIs it that famous and delicious?

According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Statistics for the 2018 harvest, 104,400 tons of peaches are shipped nationwide in Japan. The main producing areas are Yamanashi Prefecture (37,600 tons), Fukushima Prefecture (22,500 tons), and Nagano Prefecture (12,100 tons)Fukushima Prefecture is the second largest producer in Japan, accounting for 20% of the national production

Fukushima Prefecture is"Fruit Kingdom Fukushima"That being said, there are many delicious fruits

One of these is peaches, and many peaches are grown in the Fukushima Basin, where Fukushima City is located. The basin's cold winters and hot summers are said to concentrate the sweetness of the peaches, making them very popular

Fukushima Prefecture's signature peach is a thick-fleshed, juicy variety"Akatsuki"is famous! There are also other original Fukushima"Hatsuhime", and is said to be the highest"Yuzora"You'll be happy to know that there are many varieties, including:

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Why are they so delicious? Fukushima's signature peaches are at their peak in August"Akatsuki"

Fukushima Prefecture's"Akatsuki"This is a variety called this, and we will also introduce the secret to its deliciousness

The peak season for peaches is around August, and the slightly firm "Akatsuki" has a mellow fragrance and a rich sweetness. The rich sweetness is complemented by a moderate acidity, and the juicy taste makes them famous throughout the country as delicious peaches

In fact, the birth of Akatsuki has a long history

"Re-13" is a new variety that was created in 1952 at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Fruit Tree Experiment Station by crossbreeding "Hakuto" and "Hakuho." Research on this peach was conducted in 12 prefectures as part of a national project starting in 1960, and fruit was produced in 1962. However, due to the small size of the fruit, the research was terminated after 1969

but,Of the 12 prefectures, Fukushima Prefecture produced the largest fruit, and this determination led to the birth of Fukushima's "Akatsuki."

There are several theories about the origin of the name "Akatsuki," but one theory is that it was named after "Akatsuki," which means dawn, because of its beautiful red color and the fact that it can be harvested early

and,Thanks to the production of this "Akatsuki" variety, Fukushima peaches have become very famous

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Enjoy peach season from the start of July until late-season peaches in September!

Another appealing feature of Fukushima peaches is that they can be enjoyed for a long period of time, from late June to mid-SeptemberThe charm of this growing region is that you can enjoy the deliciousness of each variety, with some varieties in season in July, others in August, and still others in September

This early-ripening variety can be enjoyed in July and is small but has a refreshing and juicy taste"Hatsuhime," "Subaki," "Hikawa Hakuho," and "Fukuakari"You can taste varieties such as:

And in September, they are called late-ripening peaches"Kaguya", Ginjo peach "Sakura", and "Kirara no Kiwami""Sakura" and "Kirara no Kiwami" are rare varieties"Ginyang peach"This is a new variety of peach that is a little firm, but it might be worth trying Fukushima's new peach

These Ginjo peaches are grown using a unique method called enzyme farming, and are highly valued for their pure flavor

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How to Choose Delicious Peachesteeth?

Also, if you want to eat peaches, which are said to be "the best peaches of your life" in Fukushima Prefecture, it's a good idea to know how to choose good peaches. We'll also introduce how to choose and eat delicious peaches

Peaches areWe recommend symmetrical, plump, and beautifully rounded piecesis.

The best ones are firm and heavy, with shallow sutures. They are also beautiful red and have a sweet fragranceIf the skin on the stem is green, it is not ripe

and,The beautiful cream color of white peaches is how you know they are deliciousWe can say that

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Fukushima"The best peach of my life"Would you like to try it?

We have looked at peaches from Fukushima Prefecture, and one of their charms is that there are many varieties and they can be enjoyed for a long time

Now you can get your hands on the "best peaches of your life" through mail order or hometown tax donations. Why not give these world-class Japanese peaches a try?

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