Kawanishi's Specialty Early Peaches: Each Lovingly Bagged / Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture

The Kamo district in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, is one of the prefecture's leading producers of early peaches. In mid-May, many farmers begin the "bagging" process, covering each peach, which has grown to about 3 centimeters in diameter, with a protective bag. The harvest is scheduled for mid-to-late June.

The bagging of early peaches is carried out to prevent the fruits from turning reddish-black due to sunburn and to protect them from pests. Farmers thin out the branches, leaving 20 to 30 fruits, and select only the well-shaped and well-grown ones. The bagging, which involves covering each remaining fruit with a white paper bag (approximately 16 cm long and 13 cm wide), is currently at its peak. Farmers continue this work to ensure the shipment of delicious and beautiful peaches.

Masayuki Ota (65), a farmer in Kamo 3-chome, cultivates about 50 peach trees, including "Hikawa Hakuhou" and "Hanayome" varieties, on approximately 10 ares of land. He expects to complete the bagging of about 2,000 peaches by mid-May, with harvesting planned for mid-to-late June. By harvest time, the fruits are said to grow to about the size of a clenched fist.

Mr. Ota commented, "The weather has been good this year, and the peaches are growing smoothly. If this favorable weather, with appropriate sunshine and rain, continues, we expect to grow large and delicious peaches. We also plan a direct sales event in June, so I'm looking forward to delivering them to everyone." The sales event is scheduled for Monday, June 22nd, at Aste Kawanishi Piipu Hiroba.

Kawanishi's specialty peaches: In the Kamo district and other areas of the city, about 40 households cultivate early varieties such as "Hikawa Hakuhou" on approximately 4 hectares of land. Approximately 60 tons are shipped annually, mainly to the Keihanshin region.

Scene of last year's sales of early peaches.