On July 21, the Hirosaki Market, a direct sales store for agricultural products, was opened in Hirosaki's Ekidote Promenade.

This is the second store of "Fresh Farm FORET" on the B1 floor of the shopping mall "Hiroro" in front of Hirosaki Station. Vegetables and fruits purchased directly from farmers in the Tsugaru area around Hirosaki are lined up. Mr. Shigeo Yamamoto, the store manager, said, “There used to be many shops in the shopping district that I would call out while I was leaving school, but now there aren't so many. I want to make an analog shop with a lot of old-fashioned voices.”

"Communication is the most important thing to do," he says. In order to gain a deeper understanding of agricultural products, we ask the farmers who will deliver the products directly about their handling and cooking methods, and explain them to the customers. "At the first store, customers had to spend money to buy one vegetable each other. I thought they were acquainted with each other, but they didn't know when they asked me," he said. Mr. Yamamoto.

Since the site of the store was a direct sales store before, residents in the area stopped and said, "It's started again." “There are many customers who do not know how to preserve vegetables or how to eat them. I am always happy when I tell them how to tell the farmers directly,” says Yamamoto. The "!" Mark on the logo of the sign with the store name reflects Mr. Yamamoto's desire to make the store a new discovery.

In the future, we are considering ways to enhance prepared foods and processed products and deliver purchased vegetables. “Because there are voices that I bought it but can't carry it home,” says Yamamoto. "I hope this store will help revitalize the city," he says.

Business hours are from 7:00 to 14:00. Closed on Saturdays.