The bitterness that lies in the cultivation of strawberries in Japan

Published 2023년 4월 4일

Tridge summary

The article highlights the environmental challenges posed by Japan's practice of growing strawberries in greenhouses during the off-season, particularly in winter. This process, which involves using large heaters to maintain warm temperatures, results in greenhouse gas emissions that are approximately eight times higher than grapes and over 10 times higher than tangerines. The article follows Satoko Yoshimura, a farmer in Minoh, who reflects on the environmental impact of his heating practices and seeks alternatives. Despite the energy demands, the tradition of providing early-season 'hatsumono' strawberries, valued for their high price, continues to drive this energy-intensive farming practice.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

MINOH, Japan — Strawberry Shortcake. Strawberry mochi. Strawberries a la mode. These may sound like summer treats. But in Japan, the strawberry harvest peaks in winter—a cold season for perfect strawberries, with the pristine ones selling for hundreds of dollars each to be given as special gifts. Japanese strawberries carry an environmental cost. To recreate an artificial spring, farmers grow their delicacies in the off-season in huge greenhouses with giant gas-guzzling heaters. “We have reached a point where many people think that it is natural to have strawberries in winter,” said Satoko Yoshimura, a strawberry farmer in Minoh, on the outskirts of Osaka, who until last season burned kerosene to heat her greenhouse during all the winter. But as he continued to fill his heater tank with fuel, he said, he began to think, "What are we doing?" Fruits and vegetables are grown in greenhouses all over the world. However, the Japanese strawberry industry has taken it to such an extreme ...

Source: Eltiempo