News Releases
July 1, 2020
Entry into apple production business through a joint venture with Nihon Agri, Inc
Farmind Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tatsuo Horiuchi; hereinafter "Farmind"), together with Nihon Agri, Inc (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative and CEO: Shohei Naito; hereinafter “Nihon Agri”), established Japan Apple Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Aomori-shi, Aomori; Representative Director: Hirohito Suzuki, Ken Kishida; hereinafter "Japan Apple") in May 2020 to enter into the apple production business
Japan Apple is engaged in the apple production using the high-density planted cultivation method(*), which enables a substantial increase in yield compared to a conventional cultivation methods, and plans to expand the production area to 100ha in 5 years and aims for a maximum 6,000 tons production in 10 years. The harvested apples will be sold in Japan and overseas through Farmind and Nihon Agri.
(*) High-density planted cultivation : A cultivation method to plant densely the seedlings which grows as more compact trees than conventional for achieving early high yield, homogeneous production, and labor saving
Nihon Agri, the partner of this project, was established in 2016 to transform Japanese agricultural industry into a "profitable industry" by opening-up the overseas markets and delivering Japanese superior quality agricultural products around the world. They cultivate apples in their own farms by using a high-density planting system which enables to increase the yield, provide the production guidance to their contract farms, promote Japanese variety and Japanese-style cultivation methods overseas, and provide exports/export consulting service of Japanese fruits and vegetables mainly in Southeast Asia. Especially in the 3 countries of Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, their own brand “Essence” has acquired the top market share among the Japanese imported apples in each country.
Farmind has strengthened its handling of domestic fruits vegetables by integrating the management of the Hokkaido Direct Production Center (headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido), which is the biggest vegetable production company in Japan, by entering into an agreement to work with Orix Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and president: Inoue Ryo), which conducts vegetable production business, and by variable collaborations with JA. By entering the apple production business this time, Farmind aims to strengthen the competitiveness of domestic farming, achieve the variety expansion and stable supply of domestic fruits and vegetables, and respond to the customer’s needs, including volume retailers, as well as the end consumers.
Farmind will continue to strengthen the supply system of fruits and vegetables in Japan and overseas and improve the quality through its cold chains. Based on the corporate philosophy of "linking farmers with consumers", Farmind will deliver fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables from farms to consumers.
