The recent expansion resulted from a direct visit to Thailand on May 31 by the prefecture’s Governor Masao Uchibori, who made the sales pitch. The shipment of the peaches will take place using CA containers, which are air-conditioned and have regulated oxygen levels, thus ensuring their freshness.
At a regular press meeting on June 7, Gov. Uchibori voiced his high hopes by saying, “Not only does this mean that many Thai people will get the chance to enjoy delicious Fukushima peaches, but it also ought to have the knock-on effect of introducing the fruit throughout the whole Southeast Asian region.” The aim is to demonstrate the cost-saving benefits of exporting large amounts of fresh, delicious peaches—first to Fukushima, then to the rest of the countries in the region—and also to expand the range of goods exported beyond just peaches.
As for the quality of the agricultural products made in his prefecture, the governor confidently said, “Besides being safe, they are all delicious and will bring smiles to people’s dinner tables.” His enthusiastic goal is to use the latest expansion of peach exports to Thailand, and subsequently those to the rest of world, to dispel false rumors spread domestically that local Fukushima products are somehow unsafe.
