On this day, I went shopping at "Lalaport Tachikawa Tachibana". I was able to get the clothes I wanted at 30% off, so I was very satisfied. After finishing shopping, let's stop by the Farmers Market "Exciting Square Sprout Lalaport Tachikawa Tachibana Store" on the first floor to buy a bento box to take home. In the wide sales floor, there is a "Local Producer Support Corner" facing the aisle, where many bento boxes, rice balls, bread, local vegetables, flowers, seasonings, etc. are lined up. Bento boxes made by restaurants in Tachikawa City and its surrounding cities and towns, especially Chinese and Indian bento boxes, stand out. Especially the bento boxes were surprisingly priced at half price, a bargain. Now, let me introduce the bento boxes I bought. ★ Curry Bento (Tachikawa City, Full Paris) 740 yen → half price A curry bento with vegetable curry and naan. ★ Indian Reward Bento (Akishima City, Ajian Gandhi) 770 yen → half price A curry bento with butter chicken, keema, and three types of naan. ★ Bean and Spinach Curry & Naan (Musashimurayama City, Koyarazu) 690 yen → half price ★ Domestic Beef Mini Beef Rice and Black Wagyu Menchi Luxurious Bento (Tachikawa City, Komachino Daidokoro) 880 yen → half price It's like a Matsukadodo bento divided into nine sections, and it's nice to be able to eat a variety of side dishes little by little. Thank you, "Exciting Square", for providing delicious bento boxes at bargain prices.

I have been working in the natural food industry for over 40 years, but honestly, I was not aware of the recent developments in the industry. It seems that a company specializing in office supplies and equipment has entered the market and is expanding rapidly. Their success seems to be attributed to the fact that they have a "stylish" appeal. In the past, traditional natural food stores were often located in shabby buildings on the outskirts of town, selling dusty condiments and overpriced organic vegetables. The store owners were often seen smoking and had a stern look on their faces, sometimes even displaying their ideological beliefs prominently. This type of clientele did not make the natural food industry very approachable. However, this new company seems to be different from the old-fashioned natural food stores. They focus more on procuring stylishly packaged processed products rather than emphasizing the quality of raw materials or specialty vegetables. I had a look at their processed products, and they do not seem to have any connections with the established brands of miso, soy sauce, mirin, salt, etc. They seem more like third-sector souvenirs. When it comes to vegetables, building relationships with farmers is not an easy task. I have had a 40-year relationship with farmers who provide the best quality and taste of agricultural products from all over Japan. Japanese farmers are not easily motivated by money. Therefore, this store, like the local agricultural cooperative (JA), sources its produce directly from nearby conventional farmers. In urban areas, it is difficult to use organic fertilizers, so there is a heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers. I bought some broccoli and boiled it, but it tasted surprisingly bland. It seems that the excessive use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers for rapid growth has affected the taste. The staff at the store seem to lack knowledge about vegetables and do not display important information such as cultivation history or farming methods. Despite these shortcomings, it is impressive how a natural food store of this level has grown. To continue growing, it is essential to improve the quality and taste of vegetables. Building relationships with farmers is truly challenging. It is crucial to train buyers who can handle this task. It is important to nurture them within the company for long-term growth, rather than relying on employees from large delivery companies who may not have the necessary skills. Keep up the good work!

Natural food store on the first floor of Lalaport Tachikawa Tachibana store. They have a good selection of products, focusing on freshly harvested vegetables. Although there were no vegetables, they offer various items such as bread and processed foods, some of which are discounted for a good deal. ●Brown Sugar Steamed Bread (150 yen + tax) Normally priced as above, but there was a 20% discount sticker on it. Despite being brown sugar, it had just a hint of the unique sweetness of brown sugar, so even those who don't like brown sugar should be fine. The sweetness is not too strong. It was fluffy and moist, without any dryness, making it easy to eat. It was a high-quality steamed bread.

Hello, I'm Chi from the "Other Reviewers" team. I always go near closing time, when discounted items are lined up on the shelves. They have bento boxes, curry, and bread neatly displayed. Not just Tachikawa, but also products from shops in the Nishi-Tama area. Today, I bought some bread and pound cake. There are lots of seasonings and such on the wall shelves, but I haven't seen them yet, so maybe next time.

I purchased some delicious miso recommended by Nagasaki Prefecture. When it comes to agedashi, Nagasaki Prefecture is the best, right? I went to buy Choko's agedashi broth, but it was sold out. They used to carry it before, but not anymore. I ended up wandering around and bought Kiyoya's Shimabara agedashi miso with agedashi broth flavor. It was less than 500 yen per bag! I bought two bags, one as a souvenir. I immediately had miso soup with it. It had a mild and gentle flavor. Adding a bit more miso made the agedashi flavor stand out. I might buy it again.

The store is quite large and has a wide variety of natural and healthy deli dishes, bento boxes, vegetables, and other nutritious foods on display. I bought a few items to try because there were so many healthy options available.