Apple exports from eastern Japan appear to have recovered after consumer fears over radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant caused sendings to plummet.
In May of last year the prefecture did not export any apples to Taiwan during May, which is traditionally its largest export market, a report in Japanese newspaper the Yomiuri stated. This was due to consumer concerns over radioactive contamination of produce from the region.
According to estimates from Japan’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, 44 countries and territories at the time either banned the import of food items from the region or required they be inspected on arrival - despite being deemed safe for domestic consumption - as a result of potential radioactive contamination.
By November, however, exports had resumed and shipments during the month reached 1,809 tonnes, a figure in line with previous years.
Growers from the region will also be encouraged after the first apple auctions of the year at the Hirosaki market fetched prices around 1.6 times higher than those received last year. This is partly due to short supply.
The newspaper reported farmers were relieved apples were fetching a good price once again.
