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Japan is no stranger to typhoons. Every year, the island nation is battered by howling winds and torrential rain. This year 28 typhoons have made their way to Japan, but it was the 26th one that had a particularly disastrous impact on apple farmers in Nagano Prefecture. With their crops partially destroyed and most of their fruit unable to be sold in stores due to scratches and imperfections, the clever farmers took to the internet. Their crops are now being sold at online retailer, Oisix, as “typhoon apples.” And believe it or not, many people are actually buying the flawed fruit.
According to the Oisix website, the damage caused by the typhoon was devastating. Trees that had been growing for 20 years were destroyed. Nearly one ton of fruit was shaken from branches and had to be thrown away. Many of the apples that remained on the trees were damaged by the strong winds and rain.
Oisix began accepting orders for the typhoon-tousled Fuji apples on Oct 24 for delivery in late November. A 1-kilogram box (3 to 7 apples) is being sold for 950 yen and a larger 3-kilogram box (6 to 13 apples) costs 2,480 yen; that’s 30% off the original prices.
Many Japanese citizens have been placing orders in support of the Nagano farmers and their damaged crops. Here are a few messages from people who have purchased typhoon apples:
-- It’s extremely unfortunate this happened so close to harvesting time. I placed my order in anticipation that the scratches and imperfections won’t take away from the taste. Farmers, please keep fighting.
-- I think the information about the typhoon that we see on the news is only a fraction of its real effects. This situation is probably tougher than I can even imagine, but please keep fighting! I’m looking forward to my typhoon apples!
-- My family loves Nagano apples. They are so crisp, juicy and sweet! Since they are grown with such care, we know the taste won’t change. We are excited to receive our apples!
Source: IT Media
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Typhoon leaves one man in an awkward predicament -- Green Tokyo: 5 cool examples of urban agriculture -- Japan’s most recent typhoon causes random objects to take flight
© RocketNews24
8 Comments
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some14some
seeking sympathy business, No thanks, better quality at good price is available in my area.
Hide Suzuki
Good for them. It's great that they are taking initiatives instead of crying and seeking government assistance !
wildwest
I hope the growers can use there insurance, these prices look the same as they get from the supermarket and about the same as those prices in the supermarket apples in general, perhaps they can make sauce or pies.
nath
28 typhoons have certainly not made there way to Japan. The vast majority of them this season have been south of Okinawa or out in the pacific. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2013_Pacific_typhoon_season_summary.png
It's unfortunate that the farmers can't sell their crops. However, 950Y for 7 or less apples is a lot more than I pay for Nagano apples at my local grocery store. How exactly is this a discount in price?
bogva
Exactly my thoughts, BuBuBu! Often in Japan things that don't make to market are sold straight to consumer at prices higher than the farmers sell to the middle man! Why is that? Although I have organic farmer friend and know how hard is this stuff I sometimes find it difficult to sympathize to the guild. On one hand they trow away production that taste good but is not the shape for the market. On another they wouldn't get anything if trying to go to resellers but still asking for too much.
CoconutE3
It's great how adversity brings out creativity & resilience. Good Luck Nagano farmers!
AkashiAussie
1kg = 3-7 apples 3kg = 6-13 apples Ok?
taj
Iwate apple growers did the same.