Megurunnma, a direct sales council of Gunma producers that the Consumer Co-operative Pal System Gunma (Headquarters: Takasaki City Nakaoi-cho, Chairperson: Makiko Ohira) participates in, will hold a vegetable harvesting experience event on July 11 (Sat) from 8:00 AM at "Minna no Hatake" in Sakai Shimotake, Isesaki City. This is the final session of a series of events where participating families can interact with nature and experience everything from planting seeds to harvesting. The Tone River Producer Group (Isesaki City, Representative: Masaru Kurabayashi), a member of Megurunnma, will cooperate in managing the field.

Culmination of the "Mame Mame Course"

The experience event is the final session of the "Mame Mame Course," which focuses on growing edamame and corn. Approximately 90 participating families will harvest edamame and corn that they planted in April.

Participants have already completed two "Field Care Sessions" in June, where they experienced the tasks necessary to grow high-quality agricultural products. These farming experiences not only increase interest in food and nature but also foster gratitude towards producers, contributing to children's food education.

After harvesting, participants will enjoy the freshly picked vegetables together with producers from the Tone River Producer Group, who are responsible for the cultivation and management of "Minna no Hatake." Participants will have the opportunity to directly express their gratitude for the daily farm work and share the joy of the harvest.

▲ Harvesting edamame (July 2025) ▲ Weeding a cornfield (June 2026)

Overview of "Minna no Hatake" Farming Experience "Mame Mame Course" (2nd Session)

Date and Time: July 11 (Sat) 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM *Event proceeds in light rain; canceled in case of stormy weather.

Location: "Minna no Hatake" adjacent to Sakai Goshi Community Center (862-3 Sakai Shimotake, Isesaki City)

*Parking is available at the adjacent "Sakai Sports Park Parking Lot" (846 Sakai Kamitake, Isesaki City)

Participants: Approximately 90 families of Pal System Gunma users

Content: Harvesting edamame and corn, farm work, tasting freshly harvested vegetables, etc.

Future Schedule: November 7 (Sat) "Negi Negi Course" 2nd Session - Harvesting red leeks, etc.

During the June "Field Care Session," participants in the series harvested potatoes, which are planned to be sold at the Megurunnma booth during the "Product Exhibition," an event for Pal System, producers, and users to interact, to be held on October 10 (Sat).

▲ Harvesting potatoes (June 2026: Field Care Session)

"Mame Mame," "Negi Negi," and "Mame Katsu" Projects Underway

Pal System Gunma, together with "Megurunnma," holds events throughout the year to provide opportunities for farm work that contributes to the emotional growth of children. In addition to experience events for weeding and harvesting in Showa Village, Tone District, they also hold the "Mame Mame Course" for growing edamame and other crops, and the "Negi Negi Course" for growing red leeks and other crops at the field in Isesaki City.

Food education through planting edamame and corn seeds at Isesaki City's "Minna no Hatake" Farming Experience on April 25 (Sat) [Gunma]

Challenging the planting of red leeks and sweet potatoes at Isesaki City's "Minna no Hatake" Farming Experience on May 30 (Sat) [Gunma]

Weeding cornfields and harvesting komatsuna at "Miyata-san Chi's" field in Showa Village on June 6 (Sat) [Gunma]

The "Mame Katsu! 2026" initiative, which distributes edamame seeds to interested individuals and encourages them to grow them in their own planters or gardens, is currently underway with Pal System Gunma user families as well as five kindergartens and nursery schools in the prefecture. Photos of the growing edamame are posted in a LINE chat room to share care tips and growth status. After harvesting, there will be posts of creative dishes using edamame, and the Tone River Producer Group plans to award a "Producer's Prize" to five individuals selected from all submissions.

Passing on Regional Agriculture and Food Culture to the Next Generation

"Megurunnma" is a council jointly established by Pal System Gunma, three producer groups in the prefecture ("Yasai Club" in Showa Village, "Kurabuchi Kusa no Kai" in Takasaki City, and "Tone River Producer Group" in Isesaki City), and the Pal System Federation. It aims to promote sustainable agriculture, healthy lifestyles for consumers, and vibrant local communities, and engages in various activities to showcase the charm of Gunma.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Megurunnma welcomed three new regular members in April 2026. This fiscal year, they will sequentially hold farming experience events at PUREMA Co., Ltd. (Maebashi City), a producer of organic komatsuna, and cooking classes using milk and dairy products at Higashi Mo Dairy Direct Sales Co., Ltd. (Ota City) and Haruna Direct Sales Co., Ltd. (Takasaki City). Under the "Megurunnma 2035 Vision," jointly formulated by users and producers, they aim to deepen mutual understanding through exchanges and the promotion of local consumption.

Pal System Gunma will continue to bring producers and consumers closer and promote sustainable food and agriculture.

Consumer Co-operative Pal System Gunma Location: 120-11 Nakaoi-cho, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Chairperson: Makiko Ohira Capital Investment: 1.15 billion yen, Number of Members: 52,000, Total Business Revenue: 6.36 billion yen (as of the end of March 2026) HP: https://www.palsystem-gunma.coop/

Pal System Consumer Co-operative Federation Location: Rakus East Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa 12 Member Co-ops / Total Business Revenue of Unified Business System Users: 268.96 billion yen / Total Number of Members: 1.77 million (as of the end of March 2026) Member Co-ops: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Mutual Aid Federation, Ai Coop Miyagi HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event