Dr.Teruo Higa’s
Living A Dream

This continuous cultivation method, which does not allow fields to be idle, makes possible complete no-tillage and improves the functions of the soil ecosystem, thereby making maximum use of farmland and producing biomass effects. Using organic matter generated in the field and various plants that grow around it as mulch will create a mechanism that will naturally fertilize the soil. It is also clear that if EM is continued to be applied, the microflora will become similar to that of Terra Preta.

Amrita Farm in Niseko wins Organic Agriculture Contest for second consecutive year

Amrita Farm, a farm in Niseko Town, Niseko, Hokkaido, won the Grand Prize for the second year in a row at the nutritional value contest at the Organic Eco Festa 2024 (organized by the executive committee of the Japan Organic Agriculture Promotion Association and others) held in Tokushima Prefecture in February. This is the second consecutive year that the Farm has won the Best Awards in the “Spring/Summer” and “Autumn/Winter” categories, following last year, when they entered the contest for the first time. The farm was also selected for the Grand Prix Award, the top prize in all categories of this contest, which has been a great boost to its confidence.

Organic Farming Contest
Nutritional value and rich sweetness are highly acclaimed

The Organic Eco Festa is an annual competition for producers of organic produce from all over Japan to help share them cultivation techniques with each other. This year's contest is the 13th and saw some 330 entries from 149 people submitted in 37 categories of vegetables and fruits. They competed in four areas, including sugar content and vitamin C, which were analyzed by a private research institute. In the large tomato category, 7 items were entered in the spring/summer category and 10 in the fall/winter category. Amrita Farm’s large tomatoes had an anti-aging antioxidant power about four times the average in the fall and winter, and a sugar content that was 2.5 times the average, both of which were highest values in the competition and exceeded any previous highest values. The rich sweetness and umami flavor of the tomatoes were also highly praised, and they were awarded the top prize in all categories of this contest.

Amrita Farm produces “salt tomatoes” that have high sugar content by growing them using mineral-rich deep ocean water off the coast of Iwanai Town in order to increase sugar content. The Farm’s strength lies in its soil preparation using its own unique blend of organic liquid fertilizer and beneficial microorganisms called EM Effective Microorganisms. The fermentation of the soil and the fertilizer promotes field revitalization and prevents crop diseases, enabling the farm to maintain quality even after the intense heat of last summer.

The owners of the farm, Mr. Noritaka Saito, 51, and his wife, Asae, 43, say that they are happy if their efforts during continued abnormal weather will be of help to other producers, and they have plans to expand their activities, including accepting visitors to experience the farming and giving lectures. (Reported by Haruka Kato)
 
Article dated March 3, 2024, “Salt Tomato Grand Prix awarded to Amrita Farm in Niseko for second consecutive year” (Hokkaido Shimbun Co. permission # D2404-2407-00028003)

Spring & Summer Large Tomato Grand Prize in the video 31:28-35:24
Autumn/Winter Large Tomato Grand Prize in the video 38:14-40:59

Grand Prize in Turnip Category
Ms. Saito has been awarded the highest honor for her salad turnips in the Turnip category.

Turnip Category Grand Prize in the video 1:03:41-1:07:41