Two boxes of "Hatsuhime" peaches that fetched 100,000 yen at auction each are seen at the public wholesale market in the city of Fukushima on July 1, 2021. (Mainichi/Tatsuro Tamaki)

       FUKUSHIMA -- Two boxes of 16 highest quality peaches each sold for 100,000 yen (around $900) at auction during the "Hatsuhime" variety's first auction of the year at this northern Japan city's public wholesale market on July 1.

       The Hatsuhime peaches, a specialty of Fukushima Prefecture, were harvested in the neighboring cities of Fukushima and Date. The high-bidding "congratulatory price" paid for the first auction of the season matched last year's top bid. Normally, a box of the peaches sells for about 3,000 yen-5,000 yen (roughly $27-$45).

       April frost damage in Fukushima Prefecture means the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations' Fukushima branch anticipates sales 15% below last year or lower.

       "Thanks to producers' efforts, frost damage was kept to a minimum," Toshio Watanabe, general manager of the Fukushima branch, said. "We've had a good start, so now we want to focus on selling them."

       Watanabe also mentioned reaction to the central government decision to allow for the release into the sea of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, saying: "I don't think (the reputational damage) is completely nonexistent. It's been 10 years since the disaster, and we've been creative in striving for sales. We want to continue making efforts to dispel the harmful rumors."

       Hatsuhime will ship about a week earlier than usual this year. The peak in consignments of Fukushima's mainstay variety "Akatsuki" peaches will come between late July and early August.

       (Japanese original by Tatsuro Tamaki, Fukushima Bureau)

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