CDFA Secretary Karen Ross today greeted a delegation from Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture. The delegation, representing local government officials and agricultural cooperatives, is visiting California to learn more about specialty crop production (stone fruit) and opportunities for further collaboration. Yamanashi Prefecture is a leading stone fruit producing region in Japan. Last year, California plum producers received market access in Japan and this year will be the first full season of export shipments. A representative of the California Fresh Fruit Association also joined today’s meeting.
Japan is the fourth largest agricultural export destination for California, valued at approximately $1.5 billion.