I visited Kawanishi-Nagano by car for the Minaminakanochi Fruit Rally. I had some free time in the afternoon, so I decided to look for a local produce shop. Since it was in the afternoon, many items seemed to be sold out. However, I found some fresh vegetables at a reasonable price and bought them. They were selling water eggplants, a specialty of Osaka. I bought some and made a simple pickled dish at home. It turned out to be very delicious.

In early June 2019, on the way to Mount Koya, I made a stop in Kawachi-Nagano. I came across a local produce stand and purchased dried yuzu, loquats, and dandelion flower syrup. The shop also had a variety of bread. Here is a summary of the places I visited in the order I went: On the way to a cafe that supports employment at the Civic Center, I passed by a JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) where they had a small agricultural produce shop. I got some items I needed and took photos with permission from the shop. - Dried yuzu: 220 yen This was dried local fruit, perfect for a homemade snack. It had a slightly bitter and sour taste, not too sweet. - Loquats: 300 yen These loquats were harvested in Kawachi-Nagano, indicating it has a warm climate. I thought the climate there might be similar to Chiba Prefecture where Helsy Hakusan's peanuts were grown. - Dandelion flower syrup: 550 yen Made from dandelion flowers, yuzu, lemon, and sweet summer oranges, this syrup had a sweet taste with a hint of acidity and earthiness. I also bought a bagel, but I will review that separately. I learned that they make various fruit products in the area. Thank you for the delicious treats.

In the building at the back of the parking lot at JA Kono Nagano, locally grown vegetables and fruits are sold. The prices are a bit cheaper, and the freshness is excellent. Popular items sell out quickly, so be sure to get there early. This time, I bought some edamame, grilled them, sprinkled with salt, and enjoyed them as a snack with beer.

One Saturday, I discovered a roadside stand behind the JA parking lot next to my destination. They had flowers, fruits, vegetables... all locally grown and fresh, with reasonable prices. It's hard to resist buying when everything looks so good. They also had some unique vegetables on display, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable.