Japanese retailer Kuran and vegetable produce Hoshiko fights food loss with fresh sustainable tomato juice sake and other goods

Japanese online alcohol retailer “KURAND” is teaming up with dried vegetable produce brand “HOSHIKO” to produce dried tomatoes using “imperfect” tomatoes and tomato sake. The products will be sold as a set and go on sale for a limited period from 5 pm on October 10th to 5 pm on October 31st, 2021.

HOSHIKO’s wish to reduce food waste associated with aesthetically blemished tomatoes that are otherwise perfectly edible by creating enjoyable products with them was heard by KURAND. They joined up together to make a set of dried tomatoes using unevenly shaped tomatoes, and a tomato liquor using tomatoes also from Kumamoto prefecture. Their hope is to spread better understanding in reducing food loss, and enjoy their products on Tomato Day.

HOSHIKO also takes a lead in a tomato food loss project called “Kumamoto TOMATO-Logy PROJECT” to fight against food loss in the market in Kumamoto. There are roughly a few hundred tons of tomatoes going to waste every year in Kumamoto, while having a top production rate in Japan.

“Fuzoroi Tomato wo oishiku tanoshimu limited set” (A set to have fun enjoying unevenly shaped tomatoes)

Price: 2,340 yen

Availability period: October 10th 2021, 5 pm to October 31st 2021, 5 pm

The products will be shipped starting October 15th

This set comes with a limited edition recipe.

“Hino kuni no makka na Tomato sake” (Tomato sake)

Amount: 720 ml

Alc: 8%

Taste: Although sake, it’s said to be almost as if you are drinking a high quality tomato juice. You can enjoy the coarsely strained tomato fruits and juice at the same time with this bottle. It is recommended to drink on the rocks, or add sliced lemon and tabasco drops, and salt the rim of the glass to enjoy it in cocktail style.

“HOSHIKO Tomato (cut in wedges)”