Strawberries selected for the G20 dinner party! “Ichigo no Sato,” a direct sales store in Togo-cho

Once you eat it, you'll never forget it! There is a farm in Togo-cho Prefecture that produces exquisite strawberries that are highly acclaimed.

At the "Ichigo no Sato" introduced this time, various varieties of strawberries that are particular about the taste are produced, including the strawberries that were used at the G20 dinner party. The direct sales office is only open from January to May every year. Word-of-mouth leads to word-of-mouth, and now many people come every day from far away in search of strawberries from “Ichigo-no-Sato”.

The producer is Yasushi Kondo, a graduate of Keio University who worked for a trading company and as a secretary to a Diet member before becoming a strawberry farmer.

This time, we visited the direct sales store in Togo-cho and spoke to the representative, Mr. Kondo.

*G20
Abbreviation for “Group of Twenty”, a group consisting of 20 countries and regions including 7 countries that participate in the summit meeting of major countries, the EU, Russia, and 11 emerging countries.

Ichigo no Sato is located at Morowa, Togo-cho. It is marked by a greenhouse across from the police dog school "Royal Academy"!

There is a parking lot when you climb a small slope, and there is a direct sales store on the other side of the slope.

The sales office is open from 10:00 a.m. until the strawberries are gone. You can always have 5 to 7 different varieties depending on the season.

When we arrived, we were asked to try the strawberries first. Starting with Kaorino, which was used at the G20 dinner party, we have never tried any of the varieties, such as Asuka Ruby, Yotsuboshi, Koi Minori, and Beni Hoppe.

They all have a great balance of sweetness, tartness, and richness! To be honest, we have never eaten strawberries with such different tastes one by one.

Our strawberries are sweet no matter which side you eat them from! said Mr. Kondo. What was it that we had been taught to eat them from the leaf side? I was knocked out by the deliciousness of the strawberries.

Small packs for home use are 350 yen, and large gift packs are 700 yen.

Prices and varieties may change depending on the day, so please ask the store staff! They can also tell you their recommendations for the day.

From Congressman's Secretary to Strawberry Farmer

Why did Mr. Kondo, a former secretary to a member of the Diet, decide to start a strawberry farm? We asked him how he got started.

Ms. Kondo: "After working for a trading company, I was working as a secretary for a member of the Nagoya City Council for about four years. In the midst of all that, I was feeling very tired. Luckily, my father left me some land, so I thought that if I could grow a field and live a self-sufficient life, I would be able to feed my family of two.

So, even though I was an amateur, I started making a field and growing vegetables. In the evening, this area is jammed with Toyota-related cars, but I drink coffee while making a bonfire next to them. Oh, how happy I felt from the bottom of my heart. Gradually, I came to know the joy of growing vegetables and wanted to learn more.

I chose Aichi Prefectural University of Agriculture as a place to study. While learning agriculture in earnest for two years, I chose to grow strawberries. When I graduated, I built a greenhouse and started growing strawberries. ”

Strawberries with a particular taste.

The charm of "Ichigo no Sato" is that the taste is completely different for each variety. There are various types, from sweet to sour and full-bodied. There was Mr. Kondo's daily effort.

Mr. Kondo: "In growing strawberries, I am especially particular about the difference in taste. When you eat strawberries sold in supermarkets, you may know whether they are sweet or not, but you have never felt the difference in taste, have you? That's how much I think there is no difference between strawberries sold in supermarkets.

At Ichigo no Sato, we grow strawberries from seedlings. As you can see from the hefty part, we are particular about fully ripened strawberries, and we ship and sell strawberries that have turned red right up to the very edge of the hefty part. That is why our strawberries are so sweet! The highest sugar content of Kaorino strawberries once exceeded 30 degrees.

Mr. Kondo: "Last year I got sick and had a bad harvest, but I'm also growing a secret weapon variety, Kiyoka. This Kiyoka is so difficult to raise that I want to call it "Kiyoka-sama".

It is so delicate that 6,500 of the 7,000 that were planted in the past died, but it is really delicious. The person who ate it said, "This is not a strawberry!" It is a special strawberry. In order to raise Kiyoka, I was not satisfied with tap water, so I added a filtration device. For delicious strawberries, the best fertilizer and water are indispensable.

This year's result was a disappointment, but next year we will definitely have a good Kiyoka-sama, so please look forward to it. ”

In addition to fertilizers, Mr. Kondo uses sugar, salt, nigari, brown sugar, vinegar, soybeans, and even supplements. We felt the depth of his inquisitiveness and unfathomable love for strawberries.

Introducing strawberries!

11 kinds of strawberries are grown in Ichigo no Sato. So this time we will pick up some and introduce them.

The most popular, "Kaorino" served at the G20 dinner.

This is an original variety developed by Mie Prefecture, and is characterized by its sweetness and no sourness. It's sweet and elegant, so you can eat as many as you want.
This strawberry has been served at the G20 dinner, and is highly recommended by customers! This variety is recommended for those who want to eat sweet strawberries.

Perfect for strawberry daifuku! "Asuka Ruby"

"Asuka Ruby'' was bred at the Nara Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station by crossing "Asuka Wave'' and "Nyoho''. It is made in Asuka, Nara, and it seems that it was named Asuka Ruby because it is red like a ruby. It's a sweet and sour fresh strawberry, so it's perfect for strawberry daifuku.

At “Takeokaya Munemi” in Tenpaku Ward, you can also enjoy strawberry rice cakes made with “Asuka Ruby” and “Red Pearl” from Ichigo no Sato.

Princess of the strawberry world "Yayoi Hime"

"Princess Yayoi" has many deep-rooted fans. It is characterized by its low acidity and strong sweetness. When you put it in your mouth, it smells like melon. It is a very satisfying variety with firm flesh.

As the name suggests, these strawberries are delicious even in March.

"Koi Minori" created by a man who is not in love!?

Koi Minori, which they started making last year, is a strawberry with a good balance of sweetness and sourness. When you eat it, a gentle sweetness like a pear spreads.

The shape is rounded, and the largeness are relatively common in this variety. The firmness of the strawberries makes them very satisfying!

Four-star-class deliciousness! "Yotsuboshi"

"Yotsuboshi" started this season. It  was named "Yotsuboshi" (four stars) because it is delicious at the four-star level with its "Sweetness", "Sourness", "Flavor", and "Deliciousness"  .

The size is small, so we could eat it quickly. It's one of my personal favorite varieties.

The last one is "Beni Hoppe". It is named "Beni Hoppe" because of its bright red color and sweetness that makes one's cheeks fall. It is a variety with sweetness, acidity, and richness. It has a good sugar content and rich flavor, so it should be a hit with those who like strawberries of the high road.

According to the staff, it is also recommended to eat Ichigo no Sato Beni Hoppe with honey!

Many people think of condensed milk when they think of strawberries, but according to Mr. Kondo, it is "to disguise the fact that the strawberries are not good. In fact, the strawberries at Ichigo no Sato are so delicious that they do not need condensed milk at all.

At the sales office, they deal with the honey of the beekeeper in Toyota City. It seems that domestic honey also has a different taste depending on the type, so if you are interested, please check it out.

Frozen strawberries are also excellent!

Frozen strawberry 1,100 yen (tax included)

Ichigo no Sato also sells frozen strawberries for each variety. This can be purchased even after the harvest season has passed. It is very convenient because it can be used not only for drinks but also for desserts! The deliciousness is instantly frozen, so the taste remains the same!

Strawberries are sashimi! Eat it the same day you buy it.

For the best tasting strawberries, eat them the same day. Even if the red flesh becomes red after harvesting, it will not ripen. Therefore, it is said that the best way to eat strawberries is to eat them on the same day.

If you buy it at Ichigo no Sato, be sure to eat it on the same day.

Each strawberry that Mr. Kondo makes is filled with love. This season, you can buy it until around Golden Week in May, so please take this opportunity to visit.

Call to place a pickup order! We recommend that you call after the evening to confirm.