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Laboratory2023.10.24

We tasted the organically grown apples from Natsubori Farm in our laboratory.

Mr. Tsutomu Natsubori is one of my teachers at the NBS Japan Society of Speed Reading Education, where I learned speed-reading during my student days. In recent years, he has started Natsubori Farm in Aomori Prefecture, focusing on completely fertilizer-free, low-pesticide apple cultivation.


The idea of growing apples without fertilizer was once considered unconventional. However, ever since Mr. Akinori Kimura succeeded in cultivating so-called "miracle apples" without fertilizers, this method gradually gained attention. Mr. Natsubori received direct guidance from Mr. Kimura, and has been cultivating apples using minimal pesticides to control pests' spread.


Apples grown without fertilizers may be smaller than typical market apples, but they have a dense, flavorful taste with a smaller core. Their sliced sections deteriorate slower and have an extended shelf life as compared with regular apples. Late-harvested varieties like "Fuji" can be enjoyed even until early spring. It seems to reflect the idea that by subjecting fruits to fasting, they produce better quality than those in a state of abundance, aligning with the ideas of Eastern mind-body theory.


In October 2023, I heard that several varieties including Red Delicious and Jonagold were harvested. I ordered them and enjoyed tasting these apples with our laboratory members.

While apples are usually sliced vertically, Mr. Natsubori says that experimenting with circular slices is an interesting method, which I actually tried. It felt a bit peculiar, but indeed, the central core was hardly noticeable, allowing for consumption of almost the entire fruit, including the peel.

I deem that such events provide us with a nice opportunity to reflect on the influence of food on mind and body.

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Hiromitsu Miyata
Hiromitsu Miyata

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