Fukushima

Fukushima is a vast prefecture ranked 3rd nationally in area, divided into 3 regions, Hamadori, Nakadori, and Aizu, by the Abukuma Highlands, Ou Mountains, and Echigo Mountains. The climate varies greatly by region; Hamadori facing the Pacific Ocean is warm with little snowfall, the inland Nakadori has a basin climate with high temperatures in summer and cold in winter, and the mountainous Aizu is known as a heavy snowfall area. This topographical diversity leads to the diversification of agricultural products, and multiple different agricultural zones coexist within the same prefecture. The Fukushima Basin (around Fukushima City and Date City) is a major production area for Peach, producing brand peaches such as Akatsuki (peach) and Abukuma (peach), and maintains the level of ranked 2nd nationally in Peach production. In the Aizu Basin, native fruit varieties such as Aizu Mishirazu (persimmon) and Aizu Takada (plum) are inherited, and sake brewing is also active, with known breweries such as Aizu Musume (sake) and Hiroki (sake). Cucumber production ranks high nationally, supported by year-round greenhouse cultivation around Iwaki City. The prefecture's total agricultural output ranks high among the 6 prefectures of the Tohoku region.

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data

When discussing Fukushima agriculture, the impact of the Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011 cannot be avoided. There were concerns about the impact of radioactive materials on agricultural products, and reputational damage temporarily narrowed the sales channels for agricultural products significantly. However, since then, a thorough radioactive material inspection system has been established by the national and prefectural governments, and as of 2023, the shipment of agricultural products exceeding the standard value continues to be almost zero. This experience brought two changes to Fukushima agriculture. One is that investment in inspection and traceability has advanced significantly compared to other prefectures, making it an advanced production area nationally in terms of information disclosure to consumers. The other is the effort to rebuild brands, accelerating efforts to re-visualize the existing quality of Akatsuki, Ten no Tsubu, and Aizu Mishirazu, and to show the reliability of the production area through numbers and stories. The regional diversity born from the vast area and the thorough attitude toward quality control cultivated through adversity form the foundation of current Fukushima agriculture.