Miyagi-based Strawberry Farming Enterprise Shows off Its Technology to World
TOKYO, June 25, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - GRA Inc., a farming corporation located in Yamamoto-cho in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, today celebrated the first anniversary of its strawberry farm "ICHIGO WORLD". GRA is the recipient of 50 million yen in support funds from the Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation (MCDRF), which complements grants already obtained from Abukuma Shinkin Bank, a local financial institution.
GRA was founded shortly after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 2011 with the aim of contributing to economic revival in Yamamoto-cho. Prior to the earthquake, Yamamoto-cho was the largest strawberry producing area in all of Tohoku, but their fields suffered extensive damage during the tsunami, destroying the town's main livelihood. Drawing on the IT service management expertise of its founder, GRA worked in collaboration with local farmers to establish state-of-the art facilities for the production high quality strawberries, branded as "MIGAKI-ICHIGO,"(1) for sale across Japan. GRA also produces "MIGAKI-ICHIGO Mousseux" its own brand of sparkling wine made from strawberries.
ICHIGO WORLD is aiming to produce 20 tons of strawberries a year, with a target to 50 thousand bottles of its "MIGAKI-ICHIGO Mousseux" brand of sparkling wine, and 30 thousand units of canned sparkling wine, to be marketed as "MIGAKI-ICHIGO Canette". The initiative serves as a model for 'sixth industry' agriculture, as it seeks to turn out high value-added products from agricultural commodities. After the opening of the facility, which hires five local farmers, GRA has also been proactive in developing a support project for farmers through the creation of a farmers' franchise.
Over four years have passed since the disasters hit Tohoku in 2011, but recovery in Miyagi Prefecture and other affected areas is far from complete. MCDRF's support to GRA is part of its aim to help boost economic revitalization and generate employment in these areas. The Foundation intends to continue collaborating with local financial institutions such as Abukuma Shinkin Bank to support efforts aimed at industry revitalization and employment creation, and overall economic recovery in areas affected by the disasters.
REFERENCE INFORMATION
GRA Inc.
Location: 47 Sakura Zutsumi Aza Yamadera, Yamamoto-cho, Watari-gun, Miyagi, JapanEstablished0: January 2012 Capital: 34.2 million yenBusiness Activities:Production, sales and export of agricultural products; research and development of agricultural technologies; production region branding; manufacture of processed goods; development of farm management systems; and promotion of overseas production.Representative: Hiroki Iwasa, Representative Director/CEO
Abukuma Shinkin Bank
Headquarters: 2-4 Haramachi-ku, Sakae-cho, Minamisoma, Fukushima, JapanDate Established: September 1950Capital: 10.7 billion yenBusiness Activities: Savings, loans and other financial servicesRepresentative: Yoshihiro Ota, President
Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation
Headquarters: 2-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JapanFounded: March 2012 (incorporated as a Foundation in May 2012)Endowment: 10 billion yenPurpose:To contribute to recovering in regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake or March 2011 through the provision of scholarships and grants for NPOs and social welfare corporations as well as for the recovery of industry and job creation.Representatives:Chairman, Ken Kobayashi (President and CEO, Mitsubishi Corporation)Deputy Chairman, Yasuhito Hirota (Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Corporation)Executive Director, Yoshiyuki Nojima (General Manager, CSR and Environmental Affairs Department, Mitsubishi Corporation)
About Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Corporation (MC; TSE: 8058) is a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses across virtually every industry including industrial finance, energy, metals, machinery, chemicals, foods, and environmental business. MC's current activities are expanding far beyond its traditional trading operations as its diverse business ranges from natural resources development to investment in retail business, infrastructure, financial products and manufacturing of industrial goods. With over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide and a network of over 500 group companies, MC employs a multinational workforce of nearly 60,000 people. For more information, please visit www.mitsubishicorp.com.
Source: Mitsubishi Corporation
Contact:
Mitsubishi Corporation Telephone:+81 3 3210 2171 Facsimile:+81 3 5252 7705
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