Tsunan Yukishita Carrot (Niigata): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Harvested in spring by digging through the snow before it melts naturally.

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

Tsunan Yukishia Ninjin carrots grow between early winter and spring, spending more than three months under the deep snow of Tsunan Town, a part of the country where snowfall is among the heaviest. Tsunan Yukishita Ninjin carrots are mildly sweet, umami-rich, and fragrant due to their high content of sweetness- and umami-generating amino acids such as asparagine, and fragrance-generating caryophyllene. The product is traded at high prices due to these unique properties, which are highly rated by the market and large-scale retailers.

Link with the production area

Snowfall in Tsunan Town is among the heaviest in Japan. This allows carrots to be grown under deep snow between early winter and spring. Carrots are hand-harvested after removing the snow from the fields--a method unique to Tsunan that has been established to ensure the excellent quality of Tsunan Yukishita Ninjin.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/intel/gi_act/register/s81.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

Carrots from Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture, one of Japan's snowiest areas, left under deep snow for over three months from early winter to spring. Rich in amino acids such as asparagine and the aroma compound caryophyllene, they are mildly sweet, full of umami and fragrant. Fields are cleared of snow and the carrots dug by hand.

Tsunan Yukishita Carrot is produced in Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma County, Niigata Prefecture.

Tsunan Yukishita Carrot is in season (harvested or shipped) in Mar–Apr. Harvested in spring by digging through the snow before it melts naturally.

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

Tsunan Yukishita Carrot was registered as a Geographical Indication on June 14, 2019 (Registration No. 81). The registered producer group is Tsunan Yukishita Ninjin Association.