Japan Grows More Grapes, Peas

TOKYO - Mar 20/06 - SNS Japan produced more pears and grapes in 2005 on improved weather conditions across the growing season.

The crop quantity of Japanese pears in 2005 came to 361,400 metric tons (MT), a 33,300 MT or 10% increase over the previous poor crop year.

Chiba Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture produced 11% of the national total each, while Tottori and Fukushima Prefectures each produced 8%, and Tochigi and Nagano Prefectures accounted for 7% of national production each, the six prefectures accounting for just over 50% of national production.

With an increase in the number of the wear tassels and the arrival grain numbers, the crop quantity of grapes came to 219,500 MT, an increase of 13,900 MT or 7% over the previous crop year.

Yamanashi Prefecture alone produced 25% of the national total, while Nagano Prefecture produced 15% and Yamagata Prefecture produced 10%, the three prefectures accounting for almost 50% of national production.