Niigata is famous for its agricultural products such as Koshihikari rice, but there are also many brands of vegetables and fruits that are unique to Niigata. Echigohime,” large strawberries filled with juice, is one such example. Every year when spring arrives, farms around Niigata are crowded with strawberry pickers, and supermarkets in the prefecture are filled with the rich, sweet aroma of strawberries.
Echigohime” from Saito Strawberry Orchard
Mr. Mitsuru Saito, the representative of Saito Ichigoen, located in Tsubame City, known for its world share in the production of Western tableware, was originally a rice farmer for many generations. However, rice production alone was not enough to make a living, so he worked for a local metal processing company as a so-called dual-income farmer, taking time off from work during rice planting season to balance his two jobs. However, when he turned 50, the recession forced him to quit the company where he had worked for many years. At a crossroads in his life, Mr. Saito decided to live solely on farming for the rest of his life. However, he could not make a living only by growing rice. So what would he do? What he decided to do was to grow strawberries, which he says he loves.
I like strawberries, so let’s grow them. I am sure they are easy to grow. However, strawberries are a very delicate fruit that is not suitable for growing in cold regions. At the time, strawberries were not a major agricultural product in Niigata Prefecture, and to the surprise of no one in the Tsubame area, no one was growing them yet. This is where Mr. Saito’s intense study and ingenuity began. First of all, Niigata winters are cold, so greenhouses and shelves are necessary. He chose the right kind of soil for cultivation, improved materials and fertilizers, and devised unique methods such as the use of charcoal and seaweed. Efforts were also made to create an environment that is easy to work in. Normally, strawberry planting begins in October and harvesting continues until June. Mr. Saito, however, has devised a method of increasing the planting period to August and September, when it is still hot and summery, so that a large number of strawberries can be harvested in stages over a long period of time. Mr. Saito’s production policy is not “quality over quantity,” but rather ” both quantity and quality. This year marks the 21st year of his strawberry production, which he has continued to improve and innovate. He has received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Award and the Niigata Prefecture Governor’s Award as a producer of “Echigohime.
Why Echigohime, with its high sugar content, is called the “Miracle Strawberry
Echigohime” was registered as a variety in 1996, and was named after a pretty and fresh princess. It is a large-grained variety with high water content and very juicy. It has a strong sweetness and soft flesh. Mr. Saito says sincerely, “When I grow strawberries myself, I think there is no other strawberry that tastes as good as this one. However, compared to Tochiotome from Tochigi Prefecture, which was born in the same year, Echigohime has a much lower level of recognition nationwide. In fact, most of the production is consumed in Niigata Prefecture. The reason why Echigohime is not readily available throughout Japan, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, is due to the softness of its pulp. The large, heavy individual grapes are delicate and easily damaged, making them unsuitable for long-distance distribution.
Also, if the strawberries are stacked in a pile like the packets of strawberries often seen in supermarkets, the tender fruit will be crushed, making it impossible to put them on display in stores.
For people outside of the prefecture, these strawberries are hard to come by, and are truly a rare treat.
Because of this, Saito Strawberry Orchard has mainly sold strawberries directly at the farm, such as all-you-can-eat or by weight, but has recently started shipping strawberries picked in the morning all over the country. However, in recent years, the company has begun shipping strawberries picked in the morning all over Japan. This is because high-quality packing materials have been developed to minimize damage, making it possible to reduce the damage caused by transportation. The company is now able to ship widely throughout Japan, from the Tokyo metropolitan area and Hokkaido to Okinawa in the south.
Mr. Saito’s strawberries are characterized by a sugar content of 10 to 12 degrees, with a maximum sugar content of 15 degrees, which is one of the sweetest among strawberries. Even so, “It is a matter of course to produce delicious products. It is not enough to just make them sweet,” says Mr. Saito. He is particular about not only sweetness, but also moderate acidity and texture. Even with the same variety of strawberries, the balance of taste varies from farmer to farmer. The ” Diamond Echigohime,” a rare strawberry that can only be harvested for 10 days in February, is almost the size of a baseball, and its freshness and sweetness are even stronger than the regular Echigohime, making it almost like biting into a peach. Furthermore, ” Mankan-no-megumi, ” the ultimate version of Diamond Echigohime, reigns supreme as a miracle strawberry that only 0.2% of the entire greenhouses can harvest. Mr. Saito has created this masterpiece after more than 10 years of trial and error in his quest to produce a special strawberry that would please those who eat it and remain in their memories forever. Because of its rarity, it is only available by reservation, but it is one that I would like to try someday.
The smallest of steps and the timing of the smallest of operations directly affect the taste of the strawberry, and the large Echigohime produced by Mr. Saito, which can be said to be the crystallization of 20 years of skill and effort, is definitely worth tasting when it is freshly picked.
