Started Accepting Applications for the 2026 'Pre-registered Rice'

Pal System Consumers' Co-operative Union (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, President: Haruyuki Shibusawa) will begin accepting new applications for the 2026 'Pre-registered Rice' starting Tuesday, March 31st. For the 2025 crop, we were forced to suspend new recruitment at the time of planting due to supply anxieties caused by the 'Reiwa Rice Riot', but after an additional recruitment in February, we are fully resuming it. This system, which was born triggered by the rice shortage due to the cold damage in 1993 and has a history of over 30 years, won the 'Good Design Award' in FY2023. The user's 'promise of regular purchase for one year' supports the producer's stable rice farming, and delivers rice preferentially even in poor harvests or emergencies. It is a 'mechanism to protect the rice paddies of the future' where direct production and the dining table support each other.

## The Value of a 'Promise' in an Era of Supply Anxiety

'Pre-registered Rice' is a system where users reserve rice for one year from that year's new crop before rice planting, delivering rice regularly on a 4-week cycle. By combining weight and brand, it can be used to suit each dining table. Currently, approximately 200,000 households use Pal System.

Producers can stabilize their management and concentrate on environmentally friendly agriculture because the 'destination is decided'. Users can receive rice preferentially and at a stable price even when the market is in short supply. As a result, we were able to fully deliver rice to registered users even during the 2024 'Reiwa Rice Riot', when rice demand was tight, and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

## Adding 2 New Production Areas

Starting this year, two new production areas have been added to the pre-registered rice. JA Minami Uonuma (Niigata Prefecture) is the production area for 'Eco Uonuma Koshihikari', and JA Iwate Hanamaki (Iwate Prefecture) is for 'Eco Iwate Hitomebore'. This year, you can choose your favorite product from the following production areas and brands.

Pre-registered Rice Brand | Production Area
Eco Niigata Koshihikari | Niigata Prefecture: JA Niigata Kagayaki, JA Echigo Joetsu...