The "Locoroco Marche" was planned by producers and welfare facilities in Okayama Prefecture, centered around Kurashiki City.
It is held on the third Sunday of every month in the open space of the complex Achi Terrace Kurashiki.
The event date may change depending on the situation of the novel coronavirus infection.
Not only agricultural products, but also processed items such as mozzarella cheese, egg sandwiches, and banana juice made from Okayama-grown bananas, as well as seasonal flower arrangements and handmade goods that are likely to look good in photos, are gathered in large numbers, making it a hot topic of a marche.
Meeting producers face-to-face allows you to hear about the current seasonal items and recommended ways to enjoy them.
This is the second time the event is being held, with 17 organizations from the prefecture exhibiting.
As someone who has a keen eye for delicious food, I decided to check it out while shopping.
Encountering the rare "red lemon" right at the entrance
After lining up at the blue tent reception, completing hand sanitization and temperature checks, I enter with a sticker on my mask as a marker.
At the reception, you receive a stamp card.
Each time you shop at a store, you get one stamp, and when you collect two, you can enter a fun lottery for vegetables and sweets (limited to 100 people).
First, what caught my attention was the "Kurashiki Hiramatsu Farm x COPAIN" with a variety of citrus fruits.
On this day, the lineup included "Kaguya mikan," "Ogonkan," "Harehime," "Haruka," and "Hime lemon."
What particularly caught my attention was the variety of red lemon called Hime lemon.
It was surprisingly introduced with a handwritten note saying "scent of sansho."
I was filled with questions like, "A lemon that smells like sansho!?"
According to the shop owner, they received the original wood from Iwaki Island in Ehime Prefecture and have been carefully cultivating it for 10 years.
Finally, they have started to bear fruit and sales have begun.
It is said that production in Okayama is only from Kurashiki Hiramatsu Farm.
When I tried peeling a bit of the skin, a gentle scent of sansho wafted through, which was quite mysterious.
The owner mentioned, "It can be used in the same way as sudachi, and can be used in any dish, whether Japanese, Western, or Chinese."
The citrus season is about to end, but for the next marche, they are preparing to sell frozen mandarin oranges and alcoholic beverages as processed products.
Additionally, at the neighboring "COPAIN," two types of fruit sandwiches with mandarin oranges and bananas were introduced.
The fruit sandwiches made with fresh seasonal fruits are cute in appearance and recommended as gifts.
Getting the desired product at the farm-direct cheese factory
The next tent I visited was the Cheese Factory Harupalu.
Harupalu is a farm-direct cheese factory run by the Miyake Farm, which has been in operation for three generations in the mountainous area of Tamashima, Kurashiki City.
The high-quality cheeses made from fresh milk unique to the farm are popular products.
Actually, this is my second time trying Harupalu's cheese.
It is not an exaggeration to say that I came to the marche specifically for the "Fromage Blanc" that I enjoyed last time.
"Fromage Blanc" is a slightly tangy and refreshing fresh cheese, but my favorite way to enjoy it is to spread it on freshly baked bread and sprinkle it with salt and black pepper.
It has a taste reminiscent of sour cream and is addictively delicious.
In addition, cheeses such as "Smoked Scamorza," "Mozzarella," and "Caciocavallo," each carefully made, seem to elevate the usual dining table to something a bit special.
Next, I also visited the tent of Gold Duck Company, which is engaged in rice cultivation without pesticides or chemical fertilizers using ducks and goats in Bizen City.
Among them, the three types of domestic Italian rice caught my eye.
They are "Vialone Nano," "Carnaroli," and "Nagomi Risotto," each larger than Japanese rice and having a stout appearance.
A set for tasting small amounts of all three types is also available for sale.
Not just agricultural products! Attention to stylish items
atelier KLEE is a flower shop in Mabi, Kurashiki City, that has been producing and selling bricolage flowers for a year.
Bricolage flowers are arrangements made using rooted plants, creating a cute bouquet-like appearance.
They fill baskets or containers with palm chips and combine colorful flowers and greens for the arrangements.
Just looking at them brings a sense of healing and gentle feelings.
"Due to low production volume and irregular shapes, there are many reasons why delicious seasonal vegetables and fruits do not circulate in the market, but I hope everyone can taste them."
From the brochure
This is the sentiment of the organizers behind the Locoroco Marche.
They are also promoting initiatives for "agriculture-welfare collaboration," where farmers and welfare facilities collaborate.
Conclusion
Additionally, there were takoyaki from "G-Style" made with daikon leaves that are usually discarded.
Egg sandwiches and puddings from "Hoshi no Sato Tamago" in Bisei Town, banana juice made from fluffy Okayama-grown bananas with a consumption period of 20 minutes from "Ohisama Farm," and mini tomatoes from "Okuno Farm," among others.
Each store offered a variety of attractive products, making it impossible to fully explore in one visit.
Talking with the producers was enjoyable, and I felt rewarded when they shared tips on how to distinguish vegetables and unexpected products and ways to enjoy them.
The next event is scheduled for March 13, with new exhibitors planned.
From April, there are also plans for Saturday night events.
Even the same store may have different products each season, making the Locoroco Marche a place you want to visit repeatedly.
Why not visit to discover attractive vegetables, fruits, processed products, and handmade goods?
Data of Locoroco Marche
| Name | Locoroco Marche |
|---|---|
| Date | Every third Sunday of the month (dates may change) 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Location | In front of JR Kurashiki Station |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free |
| Homepage | locoloco_marche |
