Already famous for its peaches, the town of Kori, Fukushima Prefecture, is reaching for fresh culinary glory with a new brand of peach-fed pork.
　Royal Peach Pork, characterized by its tender meat with little odor, will be sold at the town's training center, Ubuka no Sato, from Nov. 3.

　「献上桃の郷」として知られる桑折町で、町産のモモなどを飼料にして育てた新ブランド豚「ロイヤルピーチポーク」が誕生した。臭みが少なく柔らかな肉質が特徴で、１１月３日から同町民研修センター「うぶかの郷」で販売が始まる。

　Peaches grown in the town are presented to the Imperial family, a fact that inspired the Royal Peach Pork name.
　Furusato Yell Kori, an organization of volunteer managers in the town, has been working to develop the new brand of pork for the past three years, aiming to create a new special product of the town. The pigs are fed peaches that are grown in the town for processing. They also eat powdered sake dregs made from sake rice produced in the town, and further round out their diet with peach juice.

　町内の経営者有志らで作る組織「ふるさとエール桑折」が、新たな特産品を目指し３年前から開発に取り組んできた。町内で生産された加工用のモモや町内産の酒米を使った日本酒の粉末酒かすを飼料とし、モモの果汁も与えて育てた。ブランド名は「献上桃の郷」にちなんで名付けた。

　The pigs are raised by Shimazaki Bokujo at a pig farm that straddles the border between the town of Kori and Date City. The company said it plans to ship about 400 pigs a month after raising them for about six months. Hirokichi Shimazaki, president of the firm, said, "The novel coronavirus has delayed the sales period, but we want to expand our sales channels and convey the appeal of Kori."

　ブランド豚は、しまざき牧場（神奈川県）が同町と伊達市にまたがる養豚場で飼育している。同社によると、約半年間飼育した豚を１カ月に約４００匹出荷する計画。嶋崎裕吉社長は「新型コロナウイルスの影響で販売時期がずれ込んだが、販路を拡大し、桑折の魅力を伝えたい」と力を込める。

　At an Oct. 17 tasting event, Moriaki Izumi, president of Furusato Yell Kori, said, "This pork is easy for both children and adults to eat, and we will sell it with confidence."
　Kori Mayor Nobuhiro Takahashi also gave a speech, saying, "We will strongly promote this pork as a new specialty of the town." In the future, they plan to start selling processed products such as ham, sausage and bacon made with the pork.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　１０月１７日に行われた試食会では、ふるさとエール桑折の和泉守昭社長が「子どもから大人まで食べやすい豚肉で、自信を持って販売していく」、高橋宣博町長が「新たな町の特産品として力強く発信していく」とあいさつした。今後、ハムやソーセージ、ベーコンなど加工品の販売も始める予定だ。

　【　２０２１年１０月１８日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】