乱高下するコメ価格 販売店の苦悩 長引く令和の米騒動

This graph shows the average selling price of 5 kg of rice at supermarkets, as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Prices soared due to factors such as poor harvests, including the "Reiwa Rice Riot." In June 2013, the government's release of "stockpiled rice" temporarily lowered the price to around 3,600 yen per 5 kg. However, in September 2013, prices rose again as the new rice harvest began to appear. Prices started to hover around 4,000 yen per 5 kg, reaching a peak of 4,416 yen in January 2014. Since then, prices have decreased, and the latest data released on July 10th shows a price of 3,458 yen per 5 kg, the first time it has fallen below 3,500 yen in about a year and a half. While consumers are happy that rice is more affordable, the current problem is a surplus of rice purchased during the high-price period in the fall of 2013. This is causing headaches for retailers. Ogata Rice Store, located in Yamagata City, primarily sells locally produced rice. A large quantity of rice is stored in their warehouse. [Ogata Rice Store Representative, Atsushi Ogata] "Last year and the year before, in August and September, we ran out of stock and could only sell a small amount on a first-come, first-served basis. (Last year) we worked hard to acquire expensive new rice, but now we have a surplus." This store has more than five times the amount of rice compared to two years ago, when the Reiwa rice shortage began, including what's in their warehouse and what they have contracts with producers. "This is the 'low-temperature warehouse' where we store our rice inventory. The temperature is maintained at around 13 degrees Celsius, but there's also inventory outside this warehouse." "Ideally, we wanted to store everything in the low-temperature warehouse before it got hot, but the excess is outside. At the same time last year, it was empty." Mr. Ogata says he's taking various measures to sell off his inventory, such as offering discounted prices on branded rice for a limited time and planning rice tasting sets. We hope for a swift "stabilization" of rice prices, which have been fluctuating wildly since the "Reiwa Rice Riot." "Regarding the use of stockpiled rice, if we had considered the order and sales destinations based on reality rather than just theoretically, there would have been many more effective measures. We want a price formation and situation surrounding rice that is acceptable to everyone: producers, sellers, and consumers." --- 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. Subscribe here: 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@yamagatanews... 📺 We are streaming "Asaha 5-chan" and the Suggestion Forum broadcast on Yamagata Television! 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@YTS5ch?sub_c... #news #Yamagata