HIROSAKI, Aomori Pref. (Kyodo) Japan, a major food importer, has recently begun small-scale food exports in an effort to make its heavily protected farm sector more competitive. But one of the country's most successful fruit exporters says the country needs to establish internationally recognized food quality standards as a "weapon" in global competition.
For Hisanobu Katayama, who owns an apple orchard in Aomori Prefecture, exporting his fruit to Europe and neighboring parts of Asia is nothing special. Wherever the market, he sells his apples if he can make a profit.
"Unlike industrial goods, we cannot produce apples of uniform size and quality. So, depending on consumers' preferences, we select those that suit their needs and sell them for a profit," said Katayama, 45, director of Katayama Ringo Co. based in Hirosaki.