「とって すぐ食べれないって知らなかった。追熟がすごい」実はいまが旬！キウイフルーツ1～2週間“寝かせて”食べ頃に【しずおか産】【LIVEしずおか特集】

Delicious-looking meat and vegetables. What's at the end of that smoke? It's actually in season! It's the currently popular kiwifruit. Koji Hirano, Representative, Kiwifruit Country Japan Q. There are a lot of kiwifruits, aren't there?! "We grow 80 varieties of kiwifruit. Of those, seven are original varieties that are found nowhere else in the world. We're a kiwi-loving farm," says Kiwifruit Country Japan, located in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It's one of Japan's largest kiwifruit farms, measuring three Tokyo Domes in size. Kiwifruit has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the health-conscious trend. It's a fruit rich in vitamins, dietary fiber, citric acid, and more. Koji Hirano, Representative, Kiwifruit Country Japan "I think you eat a lot of New Zealand kiwifruit, but the seasons are exactly the opposite in New Zealand. When they're in Japan, they're out of stock, and when they're out of stock, they arrive, so they're available all year round." Q. Is this the only time of year you can see this in Japan? "That's right. Only now. I think you could say they're in season now." Domestic kiwifruit is harvested at this time of year. Customer "We got it!" On this day, about 40 people tried their hand at kiwifruit harvesting. Immediately after harvest, they're too hard to eat. The kiwifruit harvested this time are left to rest for about one to two weeks. Customer Q. Is this your first time harvesting? "It's my first time. I also learned how kiwifruit ripens." "I didn't know you couldn't eat them right after picking them. The ripening process is amazing. I'm not sure if I can do it at home, though." At Hirano's farm, you can have a bonfire and BBQ under the kiwifruit trees. Koji Hirano, Representative, Kiwifruit Country Japan "The smoke produced by the fire serves as a unique defense against pests and diseases on the farm." Smoking prevents pests and diseases. Here, customers use the smoke they create, giving everyone the feeling of participating in growing kiwifruit together. Koji Hirano, Representative, Kiwifruit Country Japan "Please give it a try." This is the farm's most popular kiwifruit, grown together with customers. It took over 15 years to create the original "Kiwifruit Country Japan" Benisen. While it looks like a typical kiwifruit, its interior is a vibrant red. With a sugar content of over 20%, it's sweeter than strawberries or melons. Koji Hirano, Representative, Kiwifruit Country Japan "Many people have the impression that kiwifruit is too sour, so we were trying to make something sweeter and arrived at this. I'd be happy if this inspires people to eat and love kiwifruit." While the farm promotes the appeal of kiwifruit every day, it faced a challenge in 2023: the scorching heat. Due to the unusually hot weather, kiwifruit dried out, making some unsellable. However, even if they appear damaged, they're still edible. At Hirano's farm, instead of throwing them away, they're boiled with sugar and turned into jam. By offering this jam-making experience, we're creating an opportunity for children and adults alike to learn about the importance of food. Koji Hirano, Representative of Kiwifruit Country Japan "We're encouraging everyone to participate in this event, hoping it will provide an opportunity for them to learn about ecology, nature, and the SDGs. Now is the only time you'll see so many kiwifruits, so if you come around December, you'll be able to see a sight like this." For more details, check out NEWS DIG! ↓ https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/sb...