Fruit and Vegetables: Strawberries■VarietyOkimi■Introduction
This is a rare variety grown in a very limited area and harvested
only in small quantities compared to other varieties. Cultivated inKochi Prefecture blessed with a wealth of nature, lots of sunlightand a warm climate, we strive to produce large strawberries withhigh sugar content, good fragrance and good coloring. We also
rely on honeybees for pollination and natural enemies for insect
pest control in striving to reduce the frequency of spraying withchemical pesticides.

■Characteristics
Everything from harvesting to packing into boxes and packs iscarried out by hand to ensure the careful handling of each pieceof fruit. Subcommittee members also exchange information while
striving in research to maintain the luxury brand. This variety has
low acidity, retains its fragrance right down to the base of thecalyx, has strong sweetness, and maintains its large size
throughout the season. The firm skin makes it ideal for shipment.

■Packaging

Care taken to:
Individually wrap all strawberries infoam mesh covers, then sandwich
them between layers of polyurethane
inside fancy boxes. Regular trays are
lined with polyurethane sponge on thebottom and polyurethane film on top
to hold down the fruit and prevent
damage during shipment.

■Recommended way of eating them
Eat them raw.

■Best eaten
Immediately after buying them.

■Export season
January to May■Exported toSoutheast Asia and other regions.

■Movie of production and shipment processes
Scan the QR code to enjoy
watching a movie of a trip toa farm in the growing regionof the Hata area in Kochi
Prefecture.

Fruit and Vegetables: Strawberries■Name of producer

JA Kochi prefecture Nakamurabranch office Okimi subcommittee■Address
JA Kochi prefecture Nakamura branch office, Sales Section,
415-1 Saoka, Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture 787-0009■Contact information
Phone:
E-MAIL:URL:+81-880-34-3200
hat-Nakamura-hanbai＠Ja-kochi.or.jp-■Export system and facilities
In December 2018, farms, and a sorting and packaging
facility were registered for handling exports to Thailand.
Then in January 2020, the facility was verified as fulfilling allrequirements. This was followed by initiatives at the sorting
facility, where products are inspected and improvements aremade, to acquire certification under the Kochi Prefectural
version of GAP.
We are working closely with markets in Osaka and Tokyo,
where we do business, to try and ascertain local needs.

■Overseas PR activities
We engage in business negotiations with overseas buyers in
the Osaka and Tokyo markets in carrying out surveys of local
evaluations and needs. Leaflets with information in Japaneseand English on the characteristics of Okimi strawberries areplaced inside the fancy boxes to promote the product.

■The characteristics and strengths of producers(the growing region)
On-site review meetings, public exposure events, etc., areheld by the subcommittee to ensure the strict enforcement ofsize, color and shape standards during sorting, and thesharing of awareness among all subcommittee members forthe cultivation policy through the distribution of pesticide lists,etc. This is done with the aim of bolstering cultivation skills
and standardizing quality.

■Information on production and export quantities
Area planted with variety

Around 100 ha

Production quantity

Around 13.5 t

Quantity available for export(annually)
Quantity available for export(per export)

Around 7 t
Around 50 kg

Minimum quantity available forexportAround 7 kg

Total export quantity per region

Exported amount: Around 7 t(amounts exported to different
countries are not designated)■Patents and certifications
PatentsNone

GI certification

None

Various other certifications

None