Yamagata Celery (Yamagata): season, origin and where to buy

Seasonal calendar

Harvested twice a year: the spring crop from early May to early July, and the autumn crop from early October to early December.

Timing shifts with the weather and conditions in each region.

Official registration details (MAFF)

Characteristics

Yamagata Celery is soft, fresh and crisp, and it has few harshness and bitterness. The leafstalk is not too thick. As a result of the selection of quality celeries over the years, the characteristics of Yamagata Celery have been preserv.

Link with the production area

Water needed for growing celery is abundantly available thanks to the Yamagata Goseki, a network of irrigation channels running throughout Yamagata City, and to plentiful underground water from the Zao mountains that is pumped up for use. Through the accumulated efforts of growers, methods of seed collection, temperature control and fertilization suited to the cold climate of the area have been established. By continuously growing high-quality celery, the area has become the leading celery production area in the Tohoku region.

Characteristics and link with the area: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/j/shokusan/gi_act/register/0062/index.html) The English text is our translation of the Japanese original.

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.

We have not found a reliable online or furusato nozei listing yet. Ask local farm stands or the producer group.

FAQ

Celery grown in Yamagata City. The stalks are not overly thick, stay tender as they grow, and are juicy and crisp with little harshness or bitterness. Years of plant selection have preserved these traits, and the city has become the leading celery-growing area in the Tohoku region.

Yamagata Celery is produced in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture.

Yamagata Celery is in season (harvested or shipped) in May–Jul, Oct–Dec. Harvested twice a year: the spring crop from early May to early July, and the autumn crop from early October to early December.

We have not confirmed a reliable online or furusato nozei listing. Local farm stands or the producer group are your best bet.

Yamagata Celery was registered as a Geographical Indication on April 9, 2018 (Registration No. 62). The registered producer group is Yamagata City Agricultural Cooperative.