On July 16, temperatures in Fukushima Prefecture rose due to warm, humid air. In Aizuwakamatsu, it reached 34.2°C, and 11 out of 30 locations had temperatures over 30°C, marking a real summer heat day.
This heat is seriously affecting green pepper farmers, especially in Miharu Town, where peppers are a local specialty.
Farmers like Mr. Kuroha and Mr. Hashimoto, who started a farming company together, say this year’s weather has been unpredictable—starting cold and then becoming very hot. The heat and lack of water have caused many peppers to suffer from "blossom-end rot", where the bottom of the fruit turns black.
Mr. Hashimoto said that at the beginning of the harvest, about half of their peppers were damaged and had to be thrown away.
Although their farm is large (27 ares, or 2,700 m²), they were less affected than other local farms. But the total amount of peppers shipped from the area is much lower than last year.
At the JA sorting center in Miharu:
- Last year: about 700 containers (10kg each) were shipped per day.
- This year: only about 400 containers.
This lower supply has caused prices to rise. On July 15, the price for 1kg of green peppers was 689 yen, which is about 150 yen more than the same time last year.
The peppers are shipped mostly to the Kanto area and within Fukushima, and prices are expected to stay high for now.
To deal with the heat and dryness, Mr. Hashimoto’s farm is using an engine pump to water the crops five times a day, even though high fuel prices are adding pressure. Farmers are sharing tips and staying alert as the hottest part of summer is still ahead.
by MagazineKey4532