Biotech Papaya Featured at Japan’s Supermarket Trade Show: The 2012 Japan Supermarket Trade Show took place in Tokyo during the week of February 1.   Among the new products showcased in this year’s show was U.S. Rainbow papaya.  This is the first time a direct-to-consumer biotech product was featured in Japan’s Supermarket Trade Show.   Attendees gathered around the Hawaii Papaya booth to sample and learn about biotech papaya.  Many remarked the taste of rainbow papaya as “delicious.” 

On September 1, 2011, the Government of Japan granted full approval for imports of Rainbow Biotech papaya, commercial imports were allowed beginning on December 1, 2011.  At its height in 1996, the Hawaiian papaya industry shipped nearly $15 million worth of papaya to Japan, by 2010 that total dipped below $2 million after the Hawaiian papaya production was devastated by the Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV).  Thanks to the development of the rainbow papaya, resistant to PRSV, Hawaiian papaya production recovered remarkably in the late nineties.  With Japan’s recent approval, the stage is now set for Japanese consumers to once again have greater access to supplies of delicious Hawaiian papayas. 

For more information on rainbow papaya please visit.   http://www.hawaiipapaya.com/rainbow.html and http://www.hawaiipapaya.com/japanese/kind.html (Japanese).

Japan Approves the States of Nevada and Montana as eligible shippers of U.S. chipping potatoes to Japan:  On January 27, 2012, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) approved the states of Nevada and Montana as eligible shippers of U.S. potatoes to Japan.  Since the establishment of the 2006 import protocol, only 13 U.S. states were eligible to ship to Japan with limited access.  Shipments from Idaho, one of the originally approved 14 states, remain banned due to a pale cyst nematode finding in 2006.  Prior to MAFF’s recent approval, only the States of California and Washington (since 2010) were actively shipping chipping potatoes to Japan, now the States of Nevada and Montana will join the list of eligible shipping states.  First requested in June 2011, MAFF’s approval is expected to secure an additional $1.3 million in U.S. potato sales to Japan.  In 2011 (Jan-Nov), Japan U.S. exports of fresh potatoes to Japan reached their highest level since the opening of the Japanese market at $4.6 million.

Future Farmers of America Visit the U.S. Embassy, Tokyo:  On January 30, 2012, the National Officers for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) visited the U.S. Embassy to discuss agriculture in Japan.  During the meeting the six FFA officers, representing the states of New York, Georgia, Wisconsin, Idaho, and Minnesota, met with both the Agricultural Affairs Office and Agricultural Trade Office.  In addition to meeting with Ambassador Roos, the officers participated in an engaging conversation on the role of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), current Japanese agricultural production and consumption patterns, and Japanese trade and trade policy.  FFA, an organization of over 540,000 members, builds partnerships with industry, education, government, foundations, and individuals to secure resources for the future of education, agriculture, and student leader development.

FFA officers interact with U.S. Ambassador to Japan,
John Roos, and Agriculture Minister  Counselor,
Geoffrey Wiggin