Fuji Apples from Yokote, Akita — A Grandmother’s Gift to Her Grandchildren

🍎 Life on the Orchard: Challenges and Risks

This year, the harvest in Yokote, Akita was severely affected by unusual weather and pests, resulting in only about one-third of the usual yield.
To make matters worse, bears have been appearing in the orchard almost daily.
Four adult bears were captured this year, and now even cubs are wandering in.
It seems the orchard has become part of their daily territory, and the learned behavior may be passed down to the younger bears.
Without intervention, the next generation of grown cubs might return with their own offspring.
Truly, the farmer is risking his life to grow these apples.

🎁 A Grandmother’s Gift of Apples

We purchased two boxes of small-sized apples (stacked double) for 7,000 yen (3,500 yen per box).
My mother gifted them to my two sons — a grandmother’s present to her grandchildren.

Although the price was higher than usual, it was still much cheaper than the market price. On top of that, the farmer kindly gave us a bag of blemished apples for free.

Once the damaged parts are cut away, they taste just as delicious.
We are grateful for such generosity.

🏪 Market Comparison and Trust in Farmers

At a roadside station on the way home, we noticed the same kind of apple box being sold for 800 yen more.
In times like these, having a trusted farmer connection is truly reassuring.
Thanks to this, our family can enjoy apples again this year as usual.

🌍 Fuji Apples from Yokote, Akita

The apples we bought are Fuji apples grown in Yokote, Akita, one of Japan’s most famous cultivars.
First developed in Aomori in 1939 as a cross between Red Delicious and Ralls Janet, Fuji apples are celebrated for their crisp texture, juiciness, and balanced sweetness.
Today, they are not only beloved in Japan but also widely grown and sold overseas — especially in the United States, China, and New Zealand — where they rank among the most popular varieties.
These Yokote-grown Fuji apples carry both local pride and global recognition, making them a special gift from our region.

🍽 Apples in Our Kitchen

At home, these apples will shine in many dishes: my younger son’s favorite apple pie, the tarte Tatin I recently learned in a cooking class, homemade apple jam, and even a refreshing coleslaw salad with cabbage.
Apples will once again play a starring role in our kitchen — both in sweets and in everyday meals.