The story behind the development of Niigata's limited-edition lunch packs, "adding value to the out-of-spec Okesa persimmon. [entabe.com]

We received a sample of this product, which went on sale on December 1, as well as the "Okesa Persimmon Jam & Whip" actually used in the product, from Gurutabi-san! Gurutabi-san gave us samples of the product, which went on sale on December 1, as well as the "Okesa persimmon" used in the product!

This "okesa persimmon" is used

This product is made from "Okesa persimmons" lovingly grown by persimmon farmers on Sado Island, which could not be distributed due to slight damage or other reasons, and processed into jam. The packaging is also of local specifications. The well-known "character" in the lunch packs is also dancing wearing an okesa!

I don't know the name, but "that character"!

Okesa persimmons are very easily damaged, and until now, when they were damaged, even if they were still delicious, they had to be given away cheaply or discarded. "It would be a waste to throw away a delicious persimmon! "I want to make more use of them for the development of Sado's representative food culture! The "Gurutabi" magazine, whose concept is to "protect and nurture food culture," responded to the wishes of the local farmers, and with the cooperation of Yamazaki Baking Company, this "Local Lunch Pack" was planned.

A large amount of okesa persimmons that could not be distributed and had to be discarded

I opened the package. I have never had persimmon jam before, but this "Okesa Persimmon Jam" has a very sweet taste without the astringency characteristic of persimmon. It goes well with whipped cream!

Persimmon jam and whipped cream

The actual "Okesa persimmon" has no seeds even though it is an astringent persimmon, and you can taste its sweet, juicy, and melting pulp. The reason for the "seedless" appearance is that the seeds of the Okesa persimmon stop growing while the fruit is growing, making it appear to be seedless.

Fresh!

By the way, when one hears the word "Sado," one thinks of Japan's representative bird, the crested ibis. For every one of these products sold, one yen will be used for forest maintenance on Sado Island, which is a "crested ibis forest" through the purchase of "crested ibis forest credit. Lunch Pack Okesa Persimmon Jam & Whip" will be available at supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Niigata Prefecture and some areas in Yamagata Prefecture for a limited time starting December 1. Plans are also underway to sell the product at a Lunch Pack specialty store in Akihabara, Tokyo!

Written by Itoya no Musume, Sanjo, Kyoto