Employees at a Japan Agricultural Cooperatives branch in Fukushima Prefecture publicize the Akatsuki variety of peaches on July 20, 2021. (Mainichi/Naohiro Koenuma)

       The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about fruit production in northeast Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, which dubs itself the "fruit kingdom."

       Question: Autumn is when fruit taste its best in Japan. I hear baseball and softball players in the Tokyo Olympic Games, also held in Fukushima Prefecture, highly praised the local peaches served to them, and that the prefecture calls itself the "fruit kingdom." What is fruit production there like?

       Answer: Fukushima Prefecture is one of the country's major fruit-producing areas, with produce including cherries, peaches, Asian pears and apples. Fruit cultivation flourishes particularly in the north of the prefecture including the city of Fukushima, and fruit can be enjoyed from June to December.

       Q: Did farmers have a difficult time following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011?

       A: Reputational damage remains, and crop prices have not returned to pre-accident levels. However, strict inspections on radioactive substances are conducted, and even immediately after the accident the radiation levels of the prefecture's fruit have not exceeded national government standards.

       Q: What are the characteristics of Fukushima Prefecture's famous peaches?

       A: The peaches given to Olympians were Fukushima Prefecture's signature variety Akatsuki, which was perfected by the prefecture. Though the fruit's flesh is hard, it has an outstanding sweetness. Because they don't need to be wrapped in bags while growing them, their sugar content rises as they soak up the sun. Although the national government originally developed the variety, the peaches were not commonly cultivated because of their small size. Fukushima's agricultural experiment station and farmers succeeded in growing larger fruit, and the variety was registered.

       Q: Climate is also important for growing fruit, isn't it?

       A: The area around the city of Fukushima experiences both the coldness of winter in northeast Japan and the harsh summer heat typical to a basin area. High temperatures and sunlight just before harvest and the winter cold necessary to awaken flower buds sweeten the peaches. Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures, both in central Japan, respectively produce Japan's largest and third largest amounts of peaches.

       Q: Is Fukushima Prefecture not No. 1?

       A: While the prefecture produced 22,800 metric tons of peaches in 2020 and has more than a 20% share in Japan, it is the second-largest producer. Many of the prefecture's farmers grow multiple kinds of fruits. None are top in terms of amounts produced, but a variety of fruits can be enjoyed. What's wrong with second place?

       (Japanese original by Ryusuke Takahashi, Fukushima Bureau)

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