“Okashi na Gyunyu Kai!?” Selected for Ichimura Ippin Grand Prize

The Japan Agricultural News held its 22nd Japan Agricultural News Ichimura Ippin Grand Prize central judging committee on March 25, selecting "Okashi na Gyunyu Kai!?" manufactured and sold by Ryuhyo no Oka Company in Abashiri City, Hokkaido, as the Grand Prize winner.

### Original Product Using Local Milk
This product is made by draining milk sourced from farms in Abashiri City, pickling it in Okhotsk beet sugar, and finishing it as milk glacé. It was highly praised for its efforts in developing a popular product by utilizing "milk," a local resource unique to dairy farming regions, and for its flavor that brings out the aroma and taste of milk.

Mitsuru Yaku, the chairman of the judging committee and a cartoonist, commented, "It has a soft texture and gentle sweetness. You can feel the trial and error in product development; it's truly a product that is the crystallization of effort." Takayuki Takeuchi, representative of Ryuhyo no Oka Company, expressed his joy at the award, saying, "I feel rewarded for having steadily sold this product for 10 years."

### Gold Prizes Awarded to "Ashigaru Premium" and "Hokkaido Tokachi Popcorn"
Following the Grand Prize, two products were selected for the Gold Prize: "Ashigaru Premium" from Akita Seimenjo Co., Ltd. (Toyoyama Town, Aichi Prefecture) and "Hokkaido Tokachi Popcorn" from Maeda Nosan Shokuhin Co., Ltd. (Honbetsu Town, Hokkaido).

"Ashigaru Premium" is a wide flat udon (kishimen) made only with brand wheat from Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, and salt. It uses 100% "Kinu Akari Premium" wheat, cultivated without herbicides during the growing season, which is part of the "Nishio Wheat" brand promoted by the Nishimikawa Agricultural Cooperative Farm Work Contractors Association, composed of farmers, and JA Nishimikawa. No additives such as modified starch are used. Its appeal lies in its ease of preparation, requiring only 3 minutes in the microwave without boiling, and its chewy texture and smooth mouthfeel.

One bag is 220g (180g noodles, 40g soup) and costs 432 yen.