TOKYO - Prolonged rainfall in Tokyo lasting more than 20 days, combined with heavy rain from Typhoon No. 25 during the Silver Week holidays, has disrupted vegetable supplies and driven up prices, with some retailers facing the possibility of suspending sales of popular seasonal products such as roasted sweet potatoes.
At Yaosei, a greengrocer in Tokyo's Ota Ward, deliveries of vegetables have declined, particularly leafy greens, as persistent rainfall affects farms in neighboring prefectures.
The store sources most of its produce from farmers in Chiba, Saitama and other nearby prefectures. Supplies of cabbage, komatsuna, cucumbers and green peppers have fallen, while the quality of some vegetables has also deteriorated.
Shingo Koshi of Yaosei said insufficient sunlight has affected cucumber growth, resulting in misshapen vegetables that fail to reach their usual size. Some have become unusually thick and short rather than developing their normal shape.
The prolonged rainfall is also threatening one of the store's signature products: roasted sweet potatoes, a seasonal favorite that has attracted customers from far beyond the neighborhood.
Koshi said the store normally places a roasting machine outside its entrance to sell freshly roasted sweet potatoes. However, persistent rain in Chiba Prefecture has flooded sweet potato fields, leaving the business unable to secure sufficient supplies.
"We always used to have our roasting machine outside the store, but all the sweet potatoes have been submerged because of the prolonged rain in Chiba," Koshi said. "At worst, we might not be able to sell them again for the rest of this year."
The store's roasted sweet potatoes have gained a following through word of mouth on social media, attracting customers who travel considerable distances to buy them as well as foreign tourists.
Demand remains strong despite the supply shortage. Koshi said more than a dozen customers had to be turned away the previous day because the store had no roasted sweet potatoes available.
The loss of the popular product could have a substantial impact on the business, with Koshi estimating that sales could fall by 30% to 40% if roasted sweet potatoes remain unavailable.
Beyond the immediate impact on his store, Koshi expressed concern for the farmers whose crops have been damaged by the continuing rainfall.
"I think the farmers growing these crops cannot see what lies ahead, so they are my biggest concern," he said. "I just hope we get some sunny days soon."
Source: TOKYO MX
