Kitami’s Annual Onion Harvest Experience: A Community Effort
In Kitami City, Hokkaido, known for being the largest onion producer in Japan, local residents take pride in their agricultural roots. Every year, as the harvest season peaks, Kitami City and its agricultural cooperatives organize an “onion harvest experience” event. This initiative aims to engage the local community, especially children, in understanding the importance of agriculture and the hard work behind producing Kitami’s famous onions.
On August 2, 2023, a group of 16 local elementary school students participated in this year’s event held in Tanno, Kitami. The focus was on harvesting two varieties of onions: “salad onions” and “red onions.” These onions, characterized by their high water content and delicate texture, require manual harvesting to avoid damage. Participants received a brief introduction about the specific care needed for these onions before heading into the fields.
The Delicate Process of Harvesting
Unlike standard onions, salad onions and red onions have more moisture, making them softer and more susceptible to damage during mechanical harvesting. As a result, participants were guided on how to gently pick the pre-loosened onions, trim the roots and leaves with scissors, and pack them into bags. The hands-on nature of the activity gave students a direct experience of the labor-intensive work that goes into harvesting onions in Kitami.
Third-grade participant Haruto expressed his excitement, saying, “This is my first time participating in a harvest. It’s so much fun!” Meanwhile, another second-grade participant, Yui, shared, “I love onions! I can’t wait to use these in dishes like meat and potatoes or curry.”
Cultivating Agricultural Awareness
For Kitami’s farmers, events like these are a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the significance of local agriculture. Yasushi Mizuguchi, a farmer who supervised the event, expressed his hopes for the future, saying, “I want the local community to taste our onions first and share the experience with others. It’s important to connect people to the source of their food.”
Kitami produces over 250,000 tons of onions annually, contributing to Japan’s total production. The city is recognized for its high-quality onions, which are widely used in both domestic and international markets. Events like the onion harvest experience not only foster a greater appreciation for agriculture but also inspire the next generation to take an interest in farming.
Kitami’s annual onion harvest experience is more than just a fun activity; it’s a community-driven effort to connect people, particularly the younger generation, to the land and the food they consume. By participating in the onion harvest, local children gain a deeper appreciation for the hard work and dedication of Kitami’s farmers, ensuring that the legacy of onion production in the region continues to thrive.
