Minamiboso City, the birthplace of dairy farming, promotes “sixth industrialization” to support struggling dairy farmers, and new products are being developed one after another

Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture, known as the birthplace of dairy farming, is focusing on supporting dairy farmers who continue to struggle. In March of last year, the city-funded third-sector company Chiba Minamiboso built Mineoka Kobo, a comprehensive processing facility that handles local ingredients, and is continually developing new products. The project will promote the development of the region's sixth industry, which involves locally processing and distributing locally produced raw milk, and will also lead to increased incomes for dairy farmers.

Dairy farming in Japan is said to have begun in 1728 when Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th Shogun of the Edo Shogunate who promoted the Kyoho Reforms, raised white cows imported from India in Mineokamaki (present-day Minamiboso City). Since then, dairy farming has developed as one of the city's key industries.

However, in recent years, many dairy farmers have fallen into financial difficulties due to soaring feed prices and are facing a lack of successors. The city has stepped in to provide support in an effort to create a system that will return fair value to dairy farmers.

Built for 1.2 billion yen

Mineoka Kobo, located next to the city's Roadside Station Otsuno Satohana Club, was built at a cost of approximately 1.2 billion yen and includes a milk production room and a confectionery production room. Because fresh milk is available, it is possible to develop products that enjoy the richness and flavor of raw milk.

In January of this year, they started selling four new types of sweets. One of the most popular is the ``Mineoka Yaki Donut'' (300 yen), which is made healthy without being fried. Yuichi Ogawa, General Manager of Chiba Minamiboso, emphasizes, ``It has flavors that use local specialties such as loquat and lemon, and is packed with the charm of the region.It's moist and very easy to eat.'' In addition to roadside stations in the city, you can purchase them on the Chiba Minamiboso e-commerce site.

hit products

Nakazawa Dairies (Tokyo), which manufactures and sells dairy products, cooperated in product development. It is said that the company's pastry chefs give shape to Chiba Minamiboso's ideas and provide advice. In July of last year, the city and Nakazawa Dairies entered into a partnership agreement to strengthen the product lineup.

By the end of the year, the company plans to develop its own butter using local raw milk.

Mr. Ogawa emphasized, ``I would like to create hit products that represent the region, increase the income of those responsible for the primary industry, and slow down the decline in the number of producers.I hope that people will consider new farmers.'' (Tsubasa Matsuzaki)