Utopia Agriculture Begins Selling Same-Day Freshly Laid Free-Range Eggs in Bankei, Sapporo

Utopia Agriculture Co., Ltd. (Hokkaido Confect Group; headquarters: Hidaka-cho, Saru District, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Shintaro Naganuma; hereinafter UA) will begin selling same-day freshly laid free-range eggs in Bankei, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido. Bankei is located about 20 minutes by car from central Sapporo. Bankei Farm, which practices circular regenerative agriculture, will start selling “same-day freshly laid natural eggs” harvested and sold on the day they are laid. The farm has previously sold free-range eggs, but by reviewing its management and sales system, it has become possible to sell eggs on the very day they are laid. In the egg market, where distribution generally takes several days, free-range eggs sold on the same day they are laid are rare in Sapporo. This initiative allows customers to experience freshness through differences such as the elasticity of the egg white and the firmness of the yolk. UA says this fresh taste is possible precisely because the eggs are sold directly at a farm surrounded by nature. Through eggs from hens raised in Bankei’s pleasant, fresh air, the company hopes customers can enjoy “true deliciousness.” Only a direct farm shop can offer same-day eggs with yolks firm enough to be picked up. Freshly laid eggs contain a large amount of carbon dioxide in the egg white, which helps protect the yolk and gives the white a raised, plump appearance. Because carbon dioxide is lost over time, a springy egg white is a sign of freshness. The yolk is wrapped in a thin membrane called the vitelline membrane, giving it enough firmness to be lifted with chopsticks. Even on tamago-kake-gohan, the yolk can rise with a distinct, bouncy texture. Bankei Farm raises about 1,000 hens in an environment as close to free-range as possible. Prioritizing the well-being of the hens, the farm keeps stocking density to around 40% of typical floor-raised poultry operations. The hens spend their days freely, enjoying sunlight and dust bathing, and sleep at night on perches made from thinned Bankei timber. A distinctive feature of the Hokkaido Confect Group is its circular agriculture using confectionery by-products. Bankei Farm’s eggs come from hens raised on an in-house blended feed based on Hokkaido-grown wheat and raw rice bran. The farm also recycles confectionery scraps from the group’s sweets factory, such as strawberry tops and sponge cake trimmings. These ingredients help supplement nutrients that hens often lack, while adding richness and umami that contribute to the eggs’ flavor. Eggs from hens fed mainly on wheat have little odor, a savory taste, and a clean finish. The eggs can be enjoyed simply in dishes such as tamago-kake-gohan, while their quality can also be appreciated in sweets such as pudding and custard. Free-range eggs laid at Bankei Farm are used in Hokkaido Confect Group sweets, including the mail-order fresh cheesecake “CHEESE WONDER.” Confectionery scraps account for no more than 2% of the total feed. Bankei Farm is located at 376 Bankei, Chuo-ku, Sapporo. Sales hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while supplies last. Prices including tax for the “same-day freshly laid natural eggs” are 570 yen for 6 eggs, 1,350 yen for 15 eggs, and 2,550 yen for 30 eggs. They are sold through a natural egg vending machine at the entrance, cash only. Reference: The group is working on regenerative agriculture in Hidaka-cho, Hokkaido, contributing to the restoration of the natural environment while building a sustainable dairy business model. It produces sweets such as the fresh cheesecake “CHEESE WONDER” using pasture-raised milk from grazing dairy farms and free-range eggs from hens raised in coops close to pasture conditions. Milk from cows raised freely on mainly fresh grass is aromatic and highly nutritious. In the pasture, cow manure and chicken manure are applied to the land; as cows walk over it, the soil becomes richer and grows high-quality grass again. This system creates cycles between cows and soil, farms and poultry facilities, and sweets and farms, forming a sustainable business model. Utopia Agriculture: https://www.utopiaagriculture.com/