A new standard for Okinawa souvenirs?

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The transformation of red potatoes into curry March 8 16:26

The number of people who visited Okinawa in the last year was 3.7 million, which is less than 40% of the previous year.

If you walk along Kokusai-dori in Naha City, you will find discounted souvenirs lined up in stores.

Chinsuko and tropical fruit-flavored cookies lined up in a casual shop.

In Okinawa, efforts have begun to buy souvenir sweets and provide them for school lunches in order to eliminate inventory.

On the other hand, some confectionery makers that produce such souvenirs are looking for new ways with excess inventory.

(Okinawa Broadcasting Station reporter Ryoji Abe)

Souvenir world success story

Red potato tart, which is one of the representative souvenirs of Okinawa.

The colorful red potato paste filled with boat-shaped tart dough has a sticky and mellow texture, and the flavor of red potato and butter spreads throughout your mouth.

Originally, as part of the village revitalization movement in the 1980s, it was developed using a special product, red potato, which was not well known as a compliment.

After that, word of mouth spread, such as being adopted for light meals on airplanes, establishing a position alongside Chinsuko.

It is also a dish that is told as a success story in the Okinawa souvenir world.

Manufacturer's decision

Before the spread of the new coronavirus infection, tourism in Okinawa was on the rise.

It is said that the confectionery maker in Yomitan Village, which manufactures red taro tart, often asks farmers to overdo it because the amount of red potato procured from farmers in the prefecture cannot keep up with the amount of tart produced.

However, the situation changed drastically due to the corona wreck.

Sales of red potato tart have dropped by about 70% from last year, and manufacturers have decided to reduce production.

The problem was the purchase of red potatoes.

The peak harvest of red potatoes is usually after October.

As of August last year, the manufacturer knew that it was not necessary to purchase as usual.

However, if the amount of stock is significantly reduced, a large amount of red potatoes will lose their place, and the farmers who have supported the manufacturers for many years and have walked together will be in trouble.

In the end, the manufacturer decided to purchase red potatoes as usual.

Mr. Takada

"I have the feeling that I've been working with a farmer on a three-legged race. I took the form of accepting all the red potatoes I made as usual."

What to do with red potato inventory

All that was left was a large inventory of red potatoes, 300 tons.

We will have four to five times as much inventory as usual, and the freezing warehouse will be filled with red potatoes processed into paste, but the part that can not fit is finally settled by renting the freezing equipment at the port to the local fishery cooperative. That's right.

How to utilize the surplus red potatoes.

Manufacturers immediately embark on the development of new products.

The person I consulted with was a local processing company that I had a relationship with.

The processing company that developed processed foods unique to Okinawa and sold them mainly at roadside stations was also suffering from a decrease in sales due to the corona virus.

Another member of the group is a local meat company that produces, processes, and sells pork.

As of January, sales of this year fell by about 40% compared to last year due to shortened business hours of restaurants, but the growth of pigs could not be stopped, so we faced a situation where inventories continued to increase. ..

These three companies have teamed up to develop a retort curry that is preferred by a wide range of age groups.

The person in charge of the manufacturer talks about the process that led to the development of a highly original product called curry containing red potato paste.

Mr. Takada

"The sweets I made through trial and error with the idea that I could somehow commercialize them in the past were the red potato tart. This curry was also born in that way, so I wonder if I can do something with each other. I have a strong feeling. "

We're not the only ones

The finished curry contains lumps of red potatoes and pork in a state that leaves a rough shape, so that you can feel the taste and aroma of red potatoes when you eat it.

The manufacturer started selling at directly managed stores and on the Internet this January, but it soon sold out due to inquiries from locals and outside the prefecture.

Sales have been strong since then, and we are responding by increasing production.

Mr. Takada says that he hopes that collaboration between local companies like this will lead to inspiring the region.

Mr. Takada

"I think it's not just us, it's hard for everyone, so by working together with the farmers and the companies involved this time to make one thing, the area will become better. I'll be fine. I'm hoping that I can deliver that energy to the whole country, so I'd like to work together in the region to produce good products. "

It may be one of the hints for companies to survive the corona wreck to overcome the difficult situation by cooperating with other companies in a difficult situation like this time.

Okinawa station reporter

Ryoji Abe

2009 He joined

Asahikawa stations, through the Nagoya stations Okinawa stations from 2020

in charge of political and economic