Domingo is collaborating with towns in Hokkaido for a month-long project, and this first installment will focus on the town of Abira! Over the course of four weeks, we will be bringing you information on how to enjoy the town and its special local products. This time, we would like to introduce tomato juice from Harahachi Farm as a specialty product of Abira town. harahachifarm homepage Abira Town Hometown Choice

Harahachi Farm Tomato Juice

Provided by: harahachifarm

The ingredients are 100% tomatoes harvested from Harahachi Farm's organic JAS-certified fields. No salt is used and there are no additives. This is a completely organic farming method that does not use any chemical fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, or other pesticides or hormones. It's amazing to know that everything from sowing the seeds to bottling is done by Nakamura and his wife.

The editorial team at Domingo had tried this tomato juice when they visited Abira Town; it was truly delicious, with a vibrant color, thick and rich juice, and an exquisite balance of strong sweetness and refreshing acidity that made it easy to drink as much as you wanted.

The secret to its deliciousness is the tomatoes that make tomato juice

The tomatoes used to make the juice are a mix of medium and cherry tomatoes.

Cindy Sweet, which is also used to make tomato juice, takes four and a half months from sowing the seeds, growing the seedlings, planting them in a greenhouse, to harvesting. During those four and a half months, no pesticides or natural pesticides permitted by the Organic JAS are used during the cultivation period, and instead of pre-made fertilizers, they use only the necessary amount of their own homemade mixture of fish meal, rice bran, scallop lime, etc. As no herbicides are used, all weeds are removed by hand, and they do not use the commonly used disposable plastic mulch, demonstrating a strong commitment to organic farming. There are many tomatoes that are simply sweet, but this tomato has a great balance of sweetness and acidity, giving it a rich flavor.

Harahachi Farm's Vision

We spoke to Nakamura from Harahachi Farm about his thoughts and passion for tomatoes.

What is the origin of the name "Harahachi Farm"?

Nakamura from Harahachi Farm

It comes from the phrase "eat only until you're 80% full," and I think it's important to have the mindset of eating only until you're 80% full, leaving yourself some room for improvement. I think that by not striving for perfection, being satisfied with only 80% full and leaving yourself some room for improvement, you can continue farming for a long time.

Please tell us about the particularities of the agriculture that Harahachi Farm takes.

Nakamura from Harahachi Farm

It's all about being organic and using cultivation methods that put as little strain on the environment as possible.

Please tell us your thoughts on Harahachi Farm's tomatoes and tomato juice.

Nakamura from Harahachi Farm

Since their first year of farming, they have continued to produce tomatoes and tomato juice, and it takes about half a year from sowing the seeds to producing the juice, just the two of them, so it is a juice that is full of love!

Please let us know how you would like people to enjoy it!

Nakamura from Harahachi Farm

You can drink it as is, or warm it up to make soup or use it in dishes such as risotto.

Thank you, Nakamura-san! This tomato juice is made with carefully grown tomatoes and is made with love, so be sure to check it out on their website!