わずか15%の狭き門！最高級「太陽のタマゴ」笑顔になれる宮崎マンゴーの歴史と魅力

The exquisite fruit that brightens up early summer in Miyazaki Prefecture, the perfectly ripe mango, is in season. May 25th is "Miyazaki Mango Day," a day to enjoy a mango and smile. Announcer Yuka Asanuma, who came to Miyazaki from Aomori this spring, explored the charms of mangoes. This time, if she answers four mango quiz questions correctly, she can eat a mango. Good luck, Asanuma-san! She visited Hidaka Farm in Saito City. It's the peak of the mango season. She'll be guided by Kenta Hidaka, who has been growing mangoes for 26 years. The biggest characteristic of Miyazaki mangoes is that they are allowed to ripen 100% on the tree, and only those that naturally fall into nets are harvested. This cultivation method was established about 30 years ago by farmers in Saito City after much trial and error. ■Trial and Error Harvesting Method Here's the first question of the mango quiz! What was the old harvesting method used to prevent mangoes from being damaged when they fell to the ground? A. Place sponges under the trees to catch the fruit. B. Hang hammocks on the trees to catch the fruit. Announcer Asanuma asks for a hint. But there is no hint! Announcer Asanuma: "I've decided! The answer is B!" Kenta Hidaka: "The correct answer is... B!" He got it right! Apparently, when they first started cultivating mangoes, they had absolutely no know-how. They couldn't imagine the mangoes falling to the ground, and were surprised when the fruit actually grew and fell. They realized they had to protect the fruit! So they started by setting up hammocks to catch the fruit, and after much trial and error, they established the current Miyazaki-style method of putting nets over each individual mango. As they proceed through the farm while harvesting mangoes... ■What are mango flowers? Here's the second question of the mango quiz! 】 A. Many yellowish-green flowers on green branches B. Many small flowers on red branches Asanuma (announcer): "My intuition tells me... B." Hidaka Kenta: "That's correct!" Apparently, in Miyazaki, mangoes are made to bloom in winter. Even in December, the greenhouse maintains a minimum temperature of over 20 degrees Celsius, creating spring conditions to cultivate the mangoes for harvest in May and June. Announcer Asanuma diligently harvests in the hot greenhouse. After harvesting 20 mangoes, she heads to the mango sorting facility! ■The narrow gate of "Taiyo no Tamago" (Sun's Egg), with only 15% selected The harvested mangoes are gathered at the sorting facility and undergo rigorous quality checks. Only the top 15% or so, which meet the standards in appearance, weight, and sugar content, are certified as the highest-grade brand, "Taiyo no Tamago." Here's the [Mango Quiz, Question 3!] Which appearance is more suitable for "Taiyo no Tamago"? A. The color is mottled. B. It is covered in white spots. Asanuma (announcer): "I'm not sure... B!" Hidaka Naoki from JA Miyazaki: "The correct answer is... B, not A!" Apparently, mangoes with uneven coloring, blemishes, or irregular shapes cannot be called "Taiyo no Tamago" (Sun's Egg). There are also other strict conditions, such as weighing over 350 grams and having a sugar content of 15 degrees or higher. [Mango Quiz, Question 4!] What is the origin of the "egg" in "Taiyo no Tamago"? Because its shape resembles the egg of a ______. What "animal" goes in the ______? Asanuma (announcer): "The only thing I can think of is a turtle... It's a turtle." Hidaka Naoki from JA Miyazaki: "A turtle...??? The correct answer is a dinosaur." It was named because the shape of the mango resembled a "dinosaur egg." It was proposed in 1998 by an 18-year-old vocational school student. Asanuma (announcer) gets the fourth question wrong. No Mango Acquisition Got… ■Focus on the Popular Mango Sweets Miyazaki mangoes, cultivated with meticulous quality control and love. At the "Miyazaki Mango Paradise" held at Amu Plaza in Miyazaki City, 12 popular sweets shops offered mango sweets, and a special mango sale was held. Miyazaki boasts many summer-perfect sweets, including the popular "Mango Sago" (a type of mango snack) trending on social media, tarts generously topped with mango, mango pudding, and shaved ice. Why not enjoy a Miyazaki mango, packed with the producers' dedication, and let it bring a smile to your face? *Later, announcer Asanuma, who worked hard, received a mango as a reward from the kind director. Read the article about this video≫ https://www.umk.co.jp/news/selection/... 〇Latest Miyazaki news and videos are being delivered! UMK HP https://www.umk.co.jp/news/ UMK App https://www.umk.co.jp/app.html YouTube    / @umk_news   TikTok   / miyazaki_news_umk   Miyazaki News UMK X   / umk_news   UMK Weather Center X   / umk_tenki   #Mango #RipeMango #TaiyoNoTamago #MangoFarm #HidakaFarm