[Radish Boya] "Eat and Support" Aomori Apple Producers Affected by Bear and Snow Damage: Report on 'Aomori Apple Producer Support' and Notice of Continued Support

'Radish Boya', developed by Oisix ra daichi Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Kohei Takashima), a company providing food subscription services, held a presentation ceremony on April 9, 2026, for support funds raised through the sale of products with donations to support apple producers in Aomori Prefecture facing bear damage and record heavy snowfall. Snowmelt began in Aomori Prefecture from mid-March, and by late March, severe damage to orchards that had been hidden under the snow was revealed one after another. In response to this situation, to support the continuous farming of the producing areas, starting Monday, April 6, 2026, a support project soliciting donations of 200-400 yen per item from Radish Boya members began sequentially in a 3-production-area relay format. Within a week of the launch, orders were received from about 400 customers, gathering over 100,000 yen in support funds.

▲Scene of the support fund presentation ceremony Left: Mr. Saito from Tsugaru Direct Delivery Association Right: Takeuchi from Radish Boya
▲Apple tree broken by snow damage

■A circle of support from 4,400 people against the double hardship of bear damage and record heavy snow. Presenting support funds to Aomori's apple producers

▲A bear about 1.5m long photographed near the farm of Tsugaru Direct Delivery Association (photographed last year)

Last autumn, at the 'Tsugaru Direct Delivery Association' in Aomori Prefecture, apples just before harvest were eaten by bears, causing severe damage that forced the felling of marked trees. In response, Radish Boya sold a 'Bear Damage Support Apple-Included Irregular Ingredients Trial Set', donating 100 yen per set to the producing area. However, as if to rub salt in the wound, a record heavy snow hit directly in January 2026. Facing serious situations such as apple tree trunks splitting and branches breaking under the weight of the snow, a donation-attached sale was planned again with the 'Heavy Snow Production Area Support! Irregular Ingredients Trial Set' (donations apportioned among 3 production areas). In response to these two donation-attached sales, we received applications for about 4,400 sets from all over the country, and presented about 400,000 yen in support funds to the association.

These support funds will be used for measures against bear damage, as well as recovery costs for orchard damage revealed as the snow melted, such as purchasing new saplings and repairing damaged trees.

■Support the production areas! A 3-production-area relay sale of Aomori heavy snow support apples is also held from April to mid-May

▲Scene of disinfecting apple trees split by heavy snow to prevent disease. Farming work has also increased due to snow damage.

The scars of the snow damage are deep, with some production areas facing over 3 meters of snow and about 20% of their trees damaged, requiring further support. Therefore, Radish Boya will conduct sales with support funds for regular members, delivering apples from 3 production areas in a relay format every two weeks. For every target apple purchased, 200-400 yen will be donated as production area support funds.

■Product Overview

Name: Support the production areas! Aomori heavy snow support apples

▲Support the production areas! Aomori heavy snow support Fuji with a 200 yen donation (1,293 yen incl. tax) 600g, 2-3 apples
▲Support the production areas! Aomori heavy snow support Fuji with a 400 yen donation (2,535 yen incl. tax) 1.2kg, 3-6 apples

Price: 1,280 yen (incl. tax) - 2,535 yen (incl. tax) *Prices vary depending on the production area and standards.

Support amount: 200-400 yen per target product purchased is donated to the production area

[3 Production Area Support Relay / Sales Schedule]

Apples from each production area will be delivered sequentially during the following periods. *Each round ends as soon as sold out.

Phase 1: Shin Nogyo Kenkyukai Sales Period: April 6 (Mon) - April 26 (Sun), 2026
Phase 2: Masahiro Apple Farm Sales Period: April 20 (Mon) - May 10 (Sun), 2026
Phase 3: Tsugaru Direct Delivery Association Sales Period: May 4 (Mon) - May 24 (Sun), 2026

Details: This product is a project to continuously support apple farmers in Aomori Prefecture who suffered severe damage from the record heavy snowfall since January 2026. While a decrease in future harvests is expected due to trees breaking under the weight of snow, having customers 'eat to support' will help fund the purchase of saplings for the next year and the repair of orchards.

Farm news article summarizing the heavy snow damage
https://www.radishbo-ya.co.jp/rb/hatakedayori/143.html

■Comments from producers upon the sale of 'Support the production areas! Aomori heavy snow support apples'

▲Mr. Imai, Shin Nogyo Kenkyukai

Shin Nogyo Kenkyukai
'This winter, Aomori City had such heavy snow that we requested the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces. Securing daily life such as removing snow from roofs was a priority, so we couldn't go to the orchards, and when we finally arrived, the lower branches were broken by nearly 2 meters of snow, and large 60-year-old trees were split right in half. It takes more than 10 years for a Maruba rootstock to bear fruit, and about 14 years to reach a profitable harvest yield. Amidst a nearly 30% decrease in revenue, even if we replant, it will involve years of hardship until harvest. However, receiving warm support from everyone now, the motivation to look forward again to this year's production is welling up. Thank you very much.'