Key Facts
• June 18, 2025: Iwafune grape producers visited Tochigi Prefecture Office to promote grapes.
• 8 representatives, including Chairman Shinichi Ono, met Governor Tomikazu Fukuda.
• Grape shipments began in May, featuring Kyoho and Shine Muscat varieties.
• Favorable weather led to high-sugar-content grapes this season.
• Current membership of the production union: 36, down by 1 from last year.
• 3 young successors are set to join, ensuring generational continuity.
• Challenges include rising material costs and heat countermeasures.
• Governor Fukuda praised the grapes as “a product of passion” and encouraged quality improvement.
• Chairman Ono emphasized efforts to produce high-quality grapes and attract future successors.
Summary
On June 18, 2025, grape producers from Iwafune, Tochigi City, visited the prefectural office to promote their Kyoho and Shine Muscat grapes. Shipments began in May, with favorable weather resulting in high-sugar-content produce. The production union, led by Chairman Shinichi Ono, currently has 36 members, including new female farmers and three young successors set to join. Despite challenges like rising material costs and heat management, the union remains committed to quality and sustainability. Governor Tomikazu Fukuda commended their efforts, encouraging further improvements in quality and profitability. Chairman Ono expressed dedication to cultivating premium grapes and fostering a sustainable future for the industry.
