福島第1原発:小売業団体に地域表示要請 農水省
福島第1原発事故に伴う農畜産物の出荷制限措置の設定や解除を巡り、政府が都道府県単位から市町村や地域単位に細分化する方針を決めたことを受け、農林水産省はスーパーなどの食品小売業関係団体に対し、野菜などを販売する際、産地名については市町村や地域を表示するよう協力を依頼した。依頼は5日付。風評被害の防止などが目的で、消費者に産地が詳しく伝わるよう配慮を求めた。【佐藤浩】
毎日新聞 2011年4月6日 23時43分
福島第1原発事故に伴う農畜産物の出荷制限措置の設定や解除を巡り、政府が都道府県単位から市町村や地域単位に細分化する方針を決めたことを受け、農林水産省はスーパーなどの食品小売業関係団体に対し、野菜などを販売する際、産地名については市町村や地域を表示するよう協力を依頼した。依頼は5日付。風評被害の防止などが目的で、消費者に産地が詳しく伝わるよう配慮を求めた。【佐藤浩】
毎日新聞 2011年4月6日 23時43分
Major retailers across Japan are moving forward with initiatives to support farmers suffering from harmful rumors about the safety of their agricultural products in the wake of radiation leaks from the quake- and tsunami-crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.
"Some farmers said their customers refused to buy their vegetables even though the products were not grown in areas designated by the government's shipment suspension order," said a spokesperson with major supermarket chain operator Ito-Yokado Co., adding that the company is committed to support farmers in areas affected by the disaster and the nuclear accident by promoting their products as much as possible.
From April 6-10, Ito-Yokado is offering at some 140 outlets across the country (except for about 10 stores in the quake-hit Tohoku region) a 20 to 40 percent discount for around 60 kinds of farm products from Fukushima, Ibaraki and other prefectures struggling with the spread of rumors.
Other supermarket chains, including Summit Inc. and Tokyu Store Corp., are also promoting vegetables and fruit from areas disadvantaged by radiation fears by offering the products at special discount prices at stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area during the same period.
At the same time, department stores are also stepping up their respective efforts to support agricultural producers in eastern and northeastern Japan.
Takashimaya Department Store's Yokohama branch will hold a tasting event for vegetables from Fukushima, Ibaraki, Gunma and two other prefectures on April 6 and 7 in a bid to promote the safety of these products to consumers, while Daimaru Department Store's Tokyo outlet is also holding an intensive sales campaign for agricultural products from Ibaraki, Gunma, Tochigi and other prefectures between April 6 and 8.
A similar campaign will also be held at Matsuzakaya Department Store's Ueno branch from April 13 through 19.
Meanwhile, major supermarket chain Daiei Inc. will hold a food fair at three of its outlets in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures on April 16 and 17, offering sweets and other local specialties from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures.
The country's leading retailer Aeon group has announced it will offer up to a 20 percent discount for a wide range of products available at some 23,000 shops at its malls nationwide between April 8 and 12 as part of the group's initiative to support the restoration of areas hit hard by the disaster. During the campaign, customers will be asked to drop the receipts of their purchases into a dedicated box installed at each shopping mall, and 1 percent of the total purchase amount during the period will be donated for disaster relief work.
"Many people are reluctant to shop because of the earthquake, but it's difficult to help areas affected by the disaster unless consumer spending increases. We'd like to promote nationwide support for restoration efforts," said Aeon Retail Co. President Shohei Murai.
Furthermore, other industries are also helping disaster victims in their own ways.
Nissin Food Products is offering its instant noodle products free of charge to residents of disaster-ravaged regions, while UCC Ueshima Coffee Co. is serving hot cups of coffee for free to people staying at evacuation shelters.
Panasonic Corp. donated dry cell batteries, solar lanterns and flashlights to quake and tsunami victims, and Softbank Mobile Corp. announced it will offer free cell phones and services to children aged under 18 who lost their parents in the recent disaster.
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) April 6, 2011
東日本大震災:被災地野菜を積極販売 小売り各社が支援