Mishima Potato (Shizuoka): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Harvested in June and July and shipped mainly in July and August. July 1 is “Mishima Potato Day.”

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

The registered description as published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Characteristics

MISHIMA BAREISHO has a beautiful skin and sweetness. It also has a high storage stability due to its air-drying storing methods in addition to strict quality control. The quality is highly evaluated in the market and traded at about 20%-50% higher unit price than same variety potatoes from other production areas.

Link with the production area

Hakone Seiroku area’s south-facing slopes excels in its breathability and water retentivity, which are perfect conditions for producing potatoes. Large harvesters cannot be used in this area due to the slopes. Therefore, farmers have to dig the potatoes by hand. This seemingly disadvantageous production condition has helped produce beautiful skin surface of MISHIMA BAREISHO.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s18.html)

Where to buy

As a rule, only products that meet the registered standard may use a GI name (with exceptions such as prior use). Check for the GI mark and the place of origin to tell it apart from ordinary products with similar names.

Find on furusato nozei (opens in a new tab)Find online (opens in a new tab)

These links go to Japanese-language shops; check whether they ship overseas.

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FAQ

Mishima Potato is a May Queen potato grown on the western slopes of Mt. Hakone in Mishima City and Kannami Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. Because large harvesters cannot work the slopes, the potatoes are dug by hand and stored with air-drying, giving them clean, attractive skins, sweetness and good keeping quality.

Mishima Potato is produced in Hakone Seiroku (western foothills of Mt. Hakone) area of Mishima City and Kannami Town (Tagata County), Shizuoka Prefecture.

Mishima Potato is in season (harvested or shipped) in Jul–Aug. Harvested in June and July and shipped mainly in July and August. July 1 is “Mishima Potato Day.”

Look for it via furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) and online shops. Check the GI mark and the place of origin before you buy.

Mishima Potato was registered as a Geographical Indication on October 12, 2016 (Registration No. 18). The registered producer group is JA Mishima Kannami (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives).