Ogon no mura: The Golden Village of Yuzu
Kito's yuzu grower. Source : Ougon no Mura
The Kito region, located in Tokushima prefecture, is renowned for its yuzu, a citrus fruit native to Japan. It is characterized by a taste that oscillates between lime, grapefruit and tangerine.
In the past, it took 15 to 20 years for a yuzu tree to bear fruit, which limited its marketability. Thanks to the efforts of the Kito Yuzu Research Association, the ripening time has been reduced to 3-5 years, stabilizing production and enabling national distribution. In 2017, Kito Yuzu was awarded a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), attesting that Kito's terroir is ideal for this crop.
Innovative techniques, such as temperature-controlled greenhouses and storage rooms, ensure year-round freshness and high quality. The association continues to develop derivative products, stabilizing prices and motivating farmers. Over the past 50 years, the association has promoted Kito Yuzu domestically and internationally, meeting consumer demands with “the world’s best Yuzu”.
“We believe in the potential of agriculture and hope to promote its sound management [...]. [...] Our real aim is to revive the depopulated locality of Kito and through the golden glow of yuzu.”
The preceding quote shows how Ougon no mura strives to make a positive change in the Kito area. This ideal is being pursued with the following actions:
Create jobs through the production of local products ;
Focus on the development of the primary industry ;
Innovate to obtain a wide range of Kito Yuzu products.
In our store you'll find a range of yuzu-based products, including 100% pure yuzu juice, yuzu kosho pepper paste and canned mackerel with yuzu.