The umeboshi trade is in disaster! The trigger is the modification of the Food Sanitation Law following the 2012 meals poisoning incident. Facility renovations required by the regulation have led some farmers to stop umeboshi gross sales, citing unprofitability. In response, younger individuals in Wakayama Prefecture have taken motion.

The easy style of umeboshi, produced from ume and salt per conventional recipes handed down by means of generations, has lengthy been cherished in Japan. Wakayama, famend for its ume manufacturing, attracts clients nationwide to its direct gross sales retailers, in search of these distinctive umeboshi.

A customer at a neighborhood direct gross sales retailer stated, ‘I love umeboshi. I can’t do without them. This one is so sour!’

However, there’s a looming disaster that would scale back the variety of conventional umeboshi producers. The president of a direct gross sales retailer lamented, ‘Wakayama is known for umeboshi. If we can’t handle umeboshi products, it will be tough for us.’

The 2012 meals poisoning incident in Sapporo, Hokkaido, which resulted in eight deaths, was attributable to calmly pickled Chinese cabbage. This incident led to the modification of the Food Sanitation Law, altering the manufacturing and sale of pickles from a notification system to a allow system beginning this June. Umeboshi are not any exception.

Previously, 5 particular person producers offered their do-it-yourself umeboshi at this direct gross sales retailer, however beginning this month, solely two stay. ‘Those who make umeboshi by hand are withdrawing. Although they follow proper procedures to prevent foreign matter contamination, the legal barriers seem too high,’ stated a retailer consultant.

We visited one of many producers, Izumi, a fourth-generation ume farmer. He takes satisfaction within the well being advantages of Wakayama’s wealthy meals tradition, which he attributes to his good well being. For over 20 years, Izumi has offered his do-it-yourself umeboshi at native direct gross sales retailers. However, the brand new regulation requires vital modifications to his facility, reminiscent of separate sinks for laundry ume and different objects, and putting in lever-type taps operable by elbows.

Izumi estimated that the required renovations would value a number of million yen. ‘It’s just not viable for me. I’m prepared to surrender. Even if I make investments the cash, I do not know what’s going to occur.’

Izumi’s choice to cease promoting his umeboshi, regardless of having loyal clients who search his merchandise, is a troublesome one. In this disaster, the Ume Boys, younger individuals energetic primarily in Minami-Town, Wakayama Prefecture, have stepped up. The chief, Masao Yamamoto, goals to rejuvenate the ume trade, gathering younger individuals nationwide to handle orchards and produce umeboshi.

Born right into a household of 5 generations of ume farmers, Yamamoto based his firm on the age of 25. He studied pharmacy at Hokkaido University Graduate School however left throughout his second 12 months to pursue his ardour for umeboshi. ‘I couldn’t find the traditional sour umeboshi I grew up eating, so I decided to make them myself. Initially, it was just for fun, but I soon became passionate about umeboshi production and wanted to rejuvenate the aging industry with young energy.’

Yamamoto’s manufacturing facility underwent renovations to adjust to the brand new regulation. He devised cost-effective options, reminiscent of utilizing waterproof paint as much as waist peak and protecting partitions with plastic sheets as a substitute of full waterproofing. Yamamoto shares his know-how freely and gives consultations to ume producers nationwide. His efforts have enabled some to satisfy the brand new necessities and proceed their enterprise.

A pair from Okayama visited Yamamoto’s manufacturing facility. They inherited an ume orchard three years in the past and commenced making umeboshi. The current regulation modification made them rethink meals security and real style. They appreciated Yamamoto’s cost-effective compliance concepts, which included utilizing a double curtain as a substitute of double doorways to separate the workspace.

The Ume Boys obtain consultations from throughout Japan, together with distant assist. By May, some producers had efficiently renovated their services and obtained gross sales permits. The Ume Boys are dedicated to sustaining meals security whereas preserving the standard bitter style of umeboshi. The harvest season is now in full swing.

Source: MBS