In the farmlands of Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, rapeseed flowers (hana-na) are blooming with soft yellow flowers, adding color to the landscape.
Nagaokakyo's hana-na is designated as a "brand Kyoto vegetable." In Nagaokakyo, farmers who make up the Nagaokakyo Hana-na Committee grow it on about 14 hectares. It has a reputation for being cut shorter than other production areas, so nothing goes to waste, and almost 90% of it is shipped to the Kyoto Central Wholesale Market. As a vegetable that makes you feel the arrival of spring, the peak shipping season is from Setsubun to Hinamatsuri.
JA Kyoto Chuo explains, "There was little rain in December last year, so growth was delayed. With the warm weather, it has grown rapidly." The fields that have already finished shipping are in full bloom, but since "Okutet" will be shipped until around May, it looks like we'll be able to enjoy the warm yellow color for a while.
