#Japan #Joetsu #Hometown Tax #Red Horse Corp #Joetsu Rice

Joetsu City's Rice Project: A Taste of Quality Amidst Shortage

With the current rice shortages ongoing throughout the nation, Joetsu City in Niigata Prefecture is stepping up to showcase its delicious rice through a unique hometown tax initiative. Managing approximately 370 tons of rice for hometown tax donations, the Red Horse Corporation has partnered with the local government to promote the region's appealing offerings since August of last year.

The initiative aims to delicately showcase the unmatched taste of Joetsu's rice, especially during these times when rice availability is dwindling. In collaboration with local rice farmers and businesses, the project has successfully introduced about 150 tons of rice for the first time, backing this supply with new harvests starting from July. The effort is designed not only to satisfy the local appetite but also to introduce Joetsu's exceptional rice to a broader audience across Japan.

Joetsu City, located in the southwestern part of Niigata Prefecture, is known for its snowy terrain. The pristine water from the melting snow of the Myoko mountain range plays a vital role in cultivating exceptional rice in this area. Red Horse Corporation’s initiative aims to enrich this experience by ensuring that the remarkable flavors encapsulated in Joetsu's rice are relayed to consumers nationwide.

In December of last year, a construction company in Joetsu registered its premium Koshihikari rice for hometown tax returns, successfully gathering donations of approximately 2,300 kg within just a few weeks. These developments signal a bright future for Joetsu’s rice culture as enhanced promotional efforts are expected to double the contribution to 370 tons this year. Aiming for an even higher target of 500 tons, Red Horse Corporation continues to refine storage and handling strategies to ensure quality and efficiency.

Furthermore, numerous partnerships with local farmers, businesses, and institutions like high schools have resulted in an impressive variety of rice selections for donation recipients. This includes the popular “Echigo Joetsu Rice” from JA Echigo Joetsu, which accumulated over 10 tons of donations within a week of its introduction. The project also features various types of Koshihikari rice cultivated by different families of farmers, collectively dubbed “All-Star Rice.” As the project expands, Joetsu is expecting to introduce award-winning rice varieties, including those from Takada Agricultural High School, to additional markets.

In a recent development, JA ZEN-NOH Niigata announced significant advancements in the cost of Koshihikari rice, reinforcing the compensations available to producers. The new figure reflects a generous 76% increase compared to the previous year, emphasizing the significance of local rice cultivation amid the national shortage. The Red Horse Corporation remains hopeful that this initiative will allow people nationwide to enjoy and appreciate Joetsu's rice firsthand, thereby creating a fanbase for this region's extraordinary agricultural output.

Joetsu City’s Official Thoughts

The city has coined the phrase, "Let's support Joetsu City by donating rice for hometown tax," to encourage local farmers and businesses to join this initiative. With a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality rice, Joetsu is eager for its local varieties to reach consumers directly, stepping away from large wholesaler distributions that have dominated in the past.

Insights from Red Horse Corporation

In light of the nationwide rice shortfall, Red Horse Corporation expresses gratitude toward the collaboration received from an extensive number of businesses, enabling unprecedented levels of rice availability. Exclusive stories of each product, crafted with rich backgrounds and the heartfelt inputs of farmers, form the backbone of Red Horse's messaging, stressing the unique value of “Joetsu” rice as opposed to simply “Niigata” rice.

Hometown Tax Donation Options

1. New Rice New Year 7, Echigo Joetsu Koshihikari (JA Echigo Joetsu) – Minimum Contribution
2. Selected Joetsu Koshihikari from Kakizaki District – Minimum Contribution
3. All-Star Rice – Flexible volume options available for new rice
4. Koshihikari from Nadachi – Contributions starting September 9
5. Takada Agricultural High School’s Rice – Upcoming options to be released soon

For further inquiries, the Hometown Tax donation platform encompasses a broad array of sites including Amazon Furusato Tax, MyFurusato, and more, aiming to ease the contribution process for all.

About Red Horse Corporation

Founded in March 1964 and headquartered in Sumida, Tokyo, Red Horse Corporation is primarily involved in regional industry support and consumer business. It operates actively in promoting local produce making industries flourish.

Contact for Press Inquiries:
Representative: Mihara
Phone: 0570-003155
Email: [email protected]