Do you remember the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster in Japan back in 2011? It made global headlines and is continuing to do so even today. The recent development, on the other hand, is related to the selling of produce from the region in the international market.
British luxury retailer Harrods has started selling peaches from Japan’s Fukushima as part of efforts to restore trust in produce from the region. The sale of the fruit at $104 per box of three marks the first time peaches from Fukushima are available in a European store.
Since 2011, farms in the Japanese region have struggled to sell their produce because of contamination fears. It comes a couple of years after the UK lifted its last import restrictions on food products and after trial sales at cultural events.
Japan releasing treated waste water from Fukushima plant
The sale of peaches at Harrods is part of efforts by the nuclear plant’s operator Tepco to restore the region’s reputation internationally. The luxury retailer is due to also begin selling a variety of grape called the Shine Muscat from the region in October 2024.
The operated has also staged similar campaigns in the US and Thailand. Each and every farm and fishery produce from the area currently has to undergo an intense radiation testing in order to conclude that the items are fit for consumption.
The Japanese government’s announcement last year to release treated waste water from the nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean proved highly controversial, triggering suspensions and blockades by significant buyers such as China and Russia.
