In the northern part of Kasaoka City, Okayama, there is a park equipped with recreational facilities such as grounds for soccer and ground golf, baseball fields, children's playgrounds, and camping sites.
The park is themed around rich nature and ancient romance, called Ancient Hill Sports Park (3478-4 Hashidate, Kasaoka City, Okayama).
It is a park where seniors enjoy ground golf, and middle school baseball tournaments are held, making it a place that local people can easily use.
At the Ancient Hill Sports Park, which is just right for refreshing oneself in nature, the "Market of Agriculture and Living" was held, aimed at building relationships between farmers of vegetables and fruits from Kasaoka City and its surrounding areas, and consumers.
This was the first large market held at Ancient Hill Sports Park.
What kind of market is the one that conveys the joy of agriculture and living?
Despite the unfortunate rain, many customers visited, and I will introduce the situation of the "Market of Agriculture and Living."
The information provided is based on the article published in June 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Market of Agriculture and Living?
The keyword for the Market of Agriculture and Living is relationship.
We aim to create a sales venue where consumers can learn directly from farmers about seasonal and dedicated vegetables and fruits, their charms, recommended ways to eat them, and more, fostering long-lasting relationships between producers and consumers.
From the Market of Agriculture and Living Instagram
Nanairo Farm's Igi Daisuke and Pasion's Yamawaki Yoshifumi took the lead in organizing the market with the cooperation of farmers who agreed with the concept and people they are connected with.
The goal is to convey the thoughts of farmers producing in the Ikasa area (Kasaoka City, Ibara City, Asakuchi City, Satosho Town, Yakage Town) and creators connected to farmers directly to customers, building long-term relationships between producers and consumers.
28 Dedicated Vendors Related to Agriculture
Although it was the first time for the Market of Agriculture and Living, 28 vendors gathered.
Vendors who agreed with the concept of the Market of Agriculture and Living gathered to liven up the market.
There are 2 Market Booths
The venue, Ancient Hill Sports Park, has playground equipment and a fountain, making it a place of relaxation for the local community.
The Market of Agriculture and Living was held in a space surrounded by the park's lush trees.
There are 2 vendor booths.
The booths are lined up in two locations: one immediately after entering the venue from the parking lot and the other up a gentle slope.
On May 13, around 10 a.m., when the market started, it began to drizzle.
If the weather had been good, it would have been a relaxing area where people could lay out sheets and chairs on the slope connecting the two booths and enjoy what they bought from the stalls, but unfortunately, that could not be realized due to the rain.
However, despite the rain, many people came, and there was a steady stream of customers until the market ended at 2 p.m.
Booths Continuing from the Parking Lot
Ancient Hill Sports Park has a dedicated parking lot.
However, for the Market of Agriculture and Living, the ground was prepared as a parking lot accommodating 300 vehicles instead of using the dedicated parking lot.
The entrance is at the back of the parking lot.
Once through the entrance, many shops lined up.
▼ The eye-catching flag is for Southern Tree's Indian curry.
Mr. Minami Tomoyuki, the representative of Southern Tree, is the representative director of NPO Umi no Kosha Oshima Higashi Elementary School.
At the Agriculture and Living Market, in addition to Southern Tree, there were creators residing in Share Atelier Umi no Kosha who had booths.
Pasion's scones and pound cake are so popular that some items sell out early.
At the Market of Agriculture and Living, you can purchase fresh vegetables and processed products while listening to the shopkeepers' stories, bringing producers and consumers closer together.
A feature and aim is to hear from the producers about delicious ways to eat the vegetables.
Booths Up the Gentle Slope
As you pass through the trees and ascend the slope, many shops are lined up.
▼ At Fureai Hiroba Hakoshima, fresh butterbur and homemade rice were being sold.
▼Based at Seto Inland Sea Dried Fruits, dried fruits are sold for 1,000 yen for 3 pieces.
▼ SIRUHA was selling carefully crafted small items, bags, and notebooks.
▼ The local Shinzan Hatomugi Miso Association was selling bento and hatomugi products.
The Kasaoka Oyadori Bento sold nearby was delicious.
What I Tried and Bought
I arrived at the Market of Agriculture and Living at 10 a.m.
While I was supposed to be taking photos and listening to stories from the shops, I ended up helping a familiar vendor and assisting the office with table preparations, and before I knew it, it was time to close (laughs).
Here’s a summary of what I ate and bought during the hustle and bustle.
Setouchi Herb Garden's Setouchi Meat Bun
The meat bun made with fennel grown by Setouchi Herb Garden in Yoshida, Kasaoka City, is juicy and delicious.
Fennel is a perennial herb in the carrot family.
The flavor of fennel is spicy with a hint of bitterness, and there is a delicious way to eat the Setouchi Meat Bun made by mixing fennel into the meat filling.
Split it in half while it's hot and drizzle some chili oil on the meat filling before eating.
I always enjoy it this way. It becomes addictive.
Kitchen Caproni's Tomato Sauce Pasta
Kitchen Caproni's tomato sauce pasta uses vegetables from Nanairo Farm.
The tomato sauce pasta, mixed with fresh vegetables and chewy pasta, has a refreshing acidity that makes it delicious enough to eat all at once.
SAMAN PICHCHA's Parcel
The impactful doll welcomes you at SAMAN PICHCHA, which is set to open a physical store in Fukuyama City in June 2023.
What I had was a dish created by the owner who studied curry in Sri Lanka.
This is a parcel of Sri Lankan-style wrapped bento.
You eat it by pouring spice curry on top.
I was told, "The onions are spicy, so please adjust as you eat," but I took a bite without thinking.
Delicious... or spicy... but delicious!
I kept repeating this while sweating and finished it all.
Nanairo Farm's Fresh Vegetables
Nanairo Farm was selling fresh vegetables.
I purchased handsome green lettuce and Misaki cabbage.
For several days, my dining table was filled with vegetables from Nanairo Farm.
Fresh vegetables are delicious!
JIDORE's Cilantro
JIDORE is a producer unit engaged in agriculture in Yoshida, Kasaoka City.
I was recommended, "The stems of zucchini are good for kinpira," so I made kinpira with them after returning home.
The crunchy texture was outstanding!
Also, the cilantro from the debut work of the agricultural women's group is said to have an irresistible aroma for cilantro lovers, according to a friend who loves cilantro.
BRIGARDEN's Cupcakes
At BRIGARDEN, which recommends black figs, kumquats, and black soybean, I bought fig and kumquat cupcakes.
The figs used in the cupcakes are Nuard de Calon.
They are characterized by their dark skin, small size, and high sugar content.
The sweetness of the Nuard de Calon, combined with the pop of the black figs and the refreshing taste of fully ripe kumquats, makes for a cupcake that elicits an involuntary "delicious!" with every bite.
Shinzan Hatomugi Miso Association's Kasaoka Oyadori Bento
The New Mountain Barley Miso Association sold the Kasaoka Oyadori Bento, which is a collaboration bento with Okayama Sanyo High School.
Based on the recipe from Okayama Sanyo High School, which won a prize in a recipe contest held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Kasaoka City's establishment, it was made into a bento.
The meat of the parent chicken is a popular ingredient in Kasaoka, also used in Kasaoka ramen.
However, I thought before eating that the meat might be too tough for a bento.
I wondered what it would be like?
When I actually tried it, it was softer than I expected, and the flavor was well-developed and delicious.
There was a secret to it. They say they use a certain ingredient to maintain the appropriate toughness of the parent chicken's meat.
Unfortunately, the ingredients used were a secret...
The relationship of collaboration among producers has already begun
At the market for agriculture and living, which aims to create a long-lasting relationship between producers and consumers, connections among producers have begun.
kitchen caproni offers pasta made with vegetables from nanairo farm.
Living Research Institute - Uto no Oyama was selling scones made with kumquat from BRIGARDEN.
As the connections among producers expand horizontally, and consumers enter that circle, a good relationship between producers and consumers begins.
The first step, the Market for Agriculture and Living, has just started.
When it comes to markets held on the seaside of Kasaoka City, there are Umi no Ichi and Minato no Kyujitsu.
In the northern part of Kasaoka City, I hope that the Market for Agriculture and Living will become a gathering place for producers and consumers that can be introduced to the local people.
It seems that the second event is being planned, so it would be nice to enjoy an agricultural market under the clear blue sky around autumn 2023.
- Arita Shoten (Kasaoka): vegetable bento, vegetable baked goods
- Southern Tree (Kasaoka): vegetable spice curry
- Île naturelle (Ibara): panpanya, focaccia
- Ahoi Farm (Ibara): steamed rice, mochi waffle
- Living Research Institute - Kuzuo no Oyama (Ibara): hand-drip coffee, baked goods
- JAZZ&TEA (Kurashiki): original blend tea, takeout tea
- Jinenjo Pumpkin (Okayama): jinenjo tororo rice, jinenjo crepe
- SAMAN PICHCHA (Fukuyama): Sri Lankan curry
- kitchen caproni (Fukuyama): vegetable pasta
- Shinyama Hatomugi Miso Association (Kasaoka): hatomugi miso, hatomugi tea
- BRIGARDEN (Kasaoka): jam, dried fruits
- Setouchi Dried Fruits (Kasaoka): dried fruits
- Hajimarini (Ibara): TOFU muffin, cookies
- Kawakami Farm (Yakage Town): organic baked goods, drinks
- Hashimaya Living Research Group (Kurashiki): scones, pickles
- pasion (Fukuyama): scones, pound cake, drinks
- Ginger Diamond (Fukuyama): ginger syrup, drinks
- Fureai Hiroba Hakoshima (Kasaoka): soft vegetables, cut flowers
- JIDORE (Kasaoka): field vegetables, cilantro
- Setouchi Herb Garden (Kasaoka): fennel, fennel processed products
- nanairo Farm (Kasaoka): vegetables
- Gojomura (Okayama): vegetables
- Kume-nan Farm (Kume-nan): vegetables
- Waioli Farm (Fukuyama): vegetables, vegetable crackers
- Shimomin Farm (Fukuyama): love carrot, carrot dressing, carrot juice
- SIRUHA (Kasaoka): bags, accessories, notebooks
- itsumokotsumo (Ibara): handmade accessories, T-shirts
- koba (Shobara): candles, sachets
Agriculture and Life Market Information
| Name | Agriculture and Life Market |
|---|---|
| Date | May 13, 2023 (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM |
| Location | Kodai no Oka Sports Park (3478-4 Hashidate, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture) |
| Homepage | Agriculture and Life Market: Official Instagram |
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