An initiative to deliver Gunma's brand strawberries that have just been harvested in the morning to consumers in Tokyo on the same day by highway bus has started in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture this month.
This initiative has been carried out by local bus companies since the 11th of this month in an attempt to promote Gunma Prefecture's brand strawberry "Yayoihime" harvested in Shibukawa City.
On the 16th, when the highway bus heading to Tokyo Station arrived at the stop, the driver received a cooler bag containing freshly harvested strawberries from the farmer on the morning of the 16th and loaded it into the luggage space.
According to bus companies, this method of transportation has the advantage that farmers can reduce the cost by half compared to courier services, and bus companies can make effective use of the vacant space.
After passengers get off at Tokyo Station, the loaded strawberries are transported by bus to supermarkets in Tokyo and displayed in stores.
Katsutoshi Suda, a farmer, said, "I'm happy that many people are eating the strawberries that I made with all my heart."
Ryo Wakaki, deputy general manager of the planning department of the bus company, said, "We hope that people who eat strawberries will become interested in Shibukawa City and lead to the revitalization of the region."