According to Sasaki Nano of Tokita Seeds, tomato consumption in Japan is definitely picking up, and along with it, the available range is becoming increasingly wider. “There is a huge and steady market for large size tomatoes, in which our beef tomato varieties are doing really well. There is also a constantly developing market for various specialty tomatoes, including cherry tomatoes."
"In this area, Tokita has the Tomatoberry and Sundees series, to name a few, and is doing very well.” He explains that when Tokita Seed's current Chairman, Tsutomu Tokita, first came across cherry tomatoes in 1973 during his visit to the United States, Japan didn’t have so many tomato varieties in the market. “Tokita Seeds developed the Suncherry for the Japanese market, and that was the introduction of cherry tomatoes to the country. The tomato market is currently moving forward supported by a growing consumption.”
Aside from the product’s health benefits, Japanese consumers are definitely interested in the taste. “With our varieties, we have observed that, when eaten fresh, a great taste and fruit-like ‘sweetness’ is very important. This is one of the reasons why the Tomatoberry draws such positive consumer reactions; it is very sweet, without the acid sting and people, including children, can really eat them like berries,” says Sasaki.
He also added that there is definitely an increasing number of greenhouses devoted to tomato cultivation, and that tomatoes, in general, have become really popular across Japan; a staple for household grocery shopping at all levels.
For more information:
Hanano Sasaki
Tokita Seed Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Tel: +81 (0)48‐686-7235
Fax: +81 (0)48‐688-1167
mobile: +81 (0)80-8727‐2250
E-mail: hsasaki@tokitaseed.co.jp
www.tokitaseed.co.jp
"In this area, Tokita has the Tomatoberry and Sundees series, to name a few, and is doing very well.” He explains that when Tokita Seed's current Chairman, Tsutomu Tokita, first came across cherry tomatoes in 1973 during his visit to the United States, Japan didn’t have so many tomato varieties in the market. “Tokita Seeds developed the Suncherry for the Japanese market, and that was the introduction of cherry tomatoes to the country. The tomato market is currently moving forward supported by a growing consumption.”
Aside from the product’s health benefits, Japanese consumers are definitely interested in the taste. “With our varieties, we have observed that, when eaten fresh, a great taste and fruit-like ‘sweetness’ is very important. This is one of the reasons why the Tomatoberry draws such positive consumer reactions; it is very sweet, without the acid sting and people, including children, can really eat them like berries,” says Sasaki.
He also added that there is definitely an increasing number of greenhouses devoted to tomato cultivation, and that tomatoes, in general, have become really popular across Japan; a staple for household grocery shopping at all levels.
For more information:Hanano Sasaki
Tokita Seed Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Tel: +81 (0)48‐686-7235
Fax: +81 (0)48‐688-1167
mobile: +81 (0)80-8727‐2250
E-mail: hsasaki@tokitaseed.co.jp
www.tokitaseed.co.jp