The Japanese Food System Experience (So Far)

Greetings from Hayashima, Japan!

It's been about a month and a half since I left Connecticut to spend a year teaching English in Japan, and in that time I (and my stomach) have begun to get used to life here. I am by no means an expert on Japan's food system at this point, nor will I likely ever be, but there are some similarities and differences between the American way of producing and consuming food and the Japanese way of doing so that became clear almost as soon as I arrived.

Similarity: Both Japan and the United States have a country-wide food distribution network

This is a picture of Marunaka, a supermarket chain with a store right here in my town. This particular picture isn't of my town's store, but the one in Hayashima looks similar. There is parking available for both bikes and cars as many people (myself included) ride bikes around town. Marunaka stocks foods and household goods from all over Japan and is fairly sizable, although nowhere near as giant as a Costco or Super Walmart. Since arriving in Japan I haven't heard of or seen anything like that.


Difference: Japan's food distribution network focuses heavily on Japanese products
Or at least it does in my experience so far. And not only does it focus on Japanese-grown products, but also regional and local products. The Pione grape and white peach are both specialties of the region I am living in, and are available, seasonally, right as you walk into the store. Local fish from the inland sea near my town makes up a large percentage of the seafood selection, and even dry goods like rice have labels displaying what prefecture the grains came from.

Joan Allen teaches us about Plant Diseases!

Last Monday CT NOFA collaborated with the wonderful Community Farm of Simsbury to put on our forth on-farm workshop of the summer; Plant Disease management presented by Joan Allen, the Assistant Extension Educator at UConn's Home and Garden Education Center. It was the perfect day for an on-farm workshop as the temperature was a cool 73 degrees, a nice break from the recent heat wave that has struck CT.

Come Visit CT NOFA at the CT Flower and Garden Show!

CT NOFA's booth from last year's show

Join CT NOFA at the CT Flower and Garden show Thursday February 21-Sunday February 24! We'll be one of over 300 booths offering education and products for the garden and landscape enthusiast. Come to the show to explore beautiful landscaped gardens and booths overflowing with fresh flowers, plants, herbs, bulbs, seeds, gardening books, garden equipment and much more.

Why Attend?
Gorgeous landscape exhibits constructed by some of the most talented landscape designers in Connecticut. The award winning landscape exhibits occupy over an acre within the Convention Center Exhibit Hall. Landscapes in full bloom with lush green grass and fragrant flowers continue to amaze attendees each year.

Highlights:

• Over 300 booths filled with plants, flowers, fertilizers, garden tools, tractors & mowers, patio & lawn furniture and more!
• Floral & garden related artisian section with one of a kind artwork, garden ornaments, jewelry, photography to name a few.
• Non-profit and educational exhibits (including ours!)
• Floral Arranging Demonstrations
• Seed planting for children
• Hours of educational seminars

And the best part is you can take advantage of all the show has to offer for free by volunteering with us for part of a day!  CT NOFA will be at the show all four days, and we still need help on Thursday and Friday, especially in the evenings.  Volunteers receive free admission to the show as well as reimbursed parking in the Convention Center Garage. If you are interested in coming to volunteer, email me at melissa@ctnofa.org.

Learn more about the show here. View a list of exhibitors (including us!) here.

Can't wait to see you there!
-Melissa