県産ブランド米 仙台でも価格下落　卸売り業者は“コメ余り”の状況

While rice prices are trending downwards nationwide, locally produced brand-name rice from Miyagi Prefecture is also being sold at lower prices than before in neighboring Miyagi Prefecture. This is due to wholesalers lowering prices in response to a surplus of rice. "Here at a store in Sendai City, Miyagi-grown Hitomebore rice is 4,760 yen for 5 kg. On the other hand, Yamagata-grown Tsuyahime rice is 4,360 yen, making Yamagata-grown rice cheaper." [Iwai Kazuyoshi, President of Kome Kobo Iwai] "Many customers are saying that (Yamagata-grown rice) has become cheaper, and sales of Tsuyahime and other varieties are very strong." Kome Kobo Iwai, a rice store in Sendai City, lowered the price of Yamagata-grown rice by about 20% in early May. This is due to price reductions by their wholesale supplier in Yamagata Prefecture. "We are very pleased that we can pass on the benefits to our customers and offer lower prices." Normally, due to factors such as transportation costs, rice from Yamagata Prefecture is sold at a higher price, but currently, the situation is reversed, with rice from Miyagi Prefecture being more expensive. "Since the price of Miyagi Prefecture rice is not falling, we are increasing sales of Yamagata Prefecture rice to cope." President Iwai is calling for price stabilization through government policies to prevent being at the mercy of wild price fluctuations in the future. "We would like the government to work together to ensure a fair price that strikes a good balance between farmers and consumers." The wholesalers in the prefecture are facing extremely difficult business conditions. [Shonai Rice Co., Ltd., President Toshiaki Abe] "The companies that supply rice to supermarkets and other retailers are probably operating at a 100% loss. They are forced to sell their high-priced inventory at low prices." Many wholesalers in the prefecture are experiencing a surplus of rice, due to the disruption of distribution of rice purchased during the high-price period of 2025, and are currently forced to sell at prices lower than their purchase price. "Unless we use up our inventory, we won't make any money. Unless we convert it into cash, we can't purchase the next batch. It's a very difficult situation." This particular company is reportedly using up its inventory relatively smoothly, but they say there's an increase in "contract rice milling" – where other companies struggling to dispose of their rice ask them to mill it for them. It appears that this movement to reduce inventory is spreading throughout Shonai, a major rice-producing region. "I hope we can create a system where everyone, from producers to distributors like us, can agree on a price." --- Read more of the latest news Daily updates on current events in Yamagata! 👉 https://www.yts.co.jp/news/ 🔔 Subscribe to receive the latest information We deliver important news you can't miss every day. Register here: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@yamagatanews... 📺 We're streaming "Asaha 5-chan" and the "Suggestion Forum" broadcast on Yamagata Television! 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@YTS5ch?sub_c... #news #Yamagata