Text 9926, 58 rader
Skriven 2007-01-04 16:33:22 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
   Kommentar till text 9802 av DAVE SACERDOTE (1:123/140)
Ärende: Re: Rice
================
*** Quoting DAVE SACERDOTE from a message to CAROL SHENKENBERGER ***

CS> The calrose I can get at the commisary, is just about the same 
CS> as the regular 'house brand rice' (think white tablewine thoughts 

<snip>

DS> Thanks - I understood about the Japanese prejudice for natively
DS> grown rice.  I thought that perhaps it was less available to the
DS> markets you were able to get to from the base (not necessarily
DS> "not for sale" or unobtainable.)

No problem!  BTW, sorry if a duplicate reply.  I'm catching up pointers on this
echo after the dupe series.  

It's not as much 'prejudice' as a tax issue but the common person is told that
rice grown locally has a slightly different nutritional element (trace
elements) which may be missing in ones grown elsewhere so since Japanese
develped on Japan rice, it is more healthful for them.  I believe actual
studies do show a minor trace element difference in some of the types comon
here.  It's probably not enough to matter, but the folks buy into it.

Hence because of many small plots, (yes, a tiny rice plot in the middle of a
smaller city area is common) and many small growers bringing in product, there
is a constant flow of small batches of slightly 'unique' rices.  Definately
easy to find on Kyushu (my island is Kyushu) because we are a major production
area.

Sasebo is just big enough, you dont see any of these in walking distance but
within 6 or 7 miles of where I live, you start seeing these little plots
between houses and city areas along the train ride up to Fukuoka.  I'd send
pictures but we are always on a moving train as you pass them and my digital
camera desnt capture them well as shinkansen (bullet train) speeds.  Grin, if
it were not for the 9 stops between me and Fukuoka, I think it would take
about 40 mins to get those 100 plus miles up there?  Guessing as I havent
timed the stops.  Some are 5 mins, several are but 3, but you have to slow
down then speed back up for each.  Whole ride with stops is 1 hour, 45 mins. 
Count it as about 35 mins total 'stop' and i guess 30 mins between slow down
and speed up? Sound about right?

Oh, you hit some really major crop areas all along the way too.  Ones where you
can clearly see what looks like 15 acres or more under cultivation for rice
and soybean as well as other things.  You can also see the other 5-9 tracks
used just to move produce at season from my general 'area' to the main
stations and i think it's Saga where yo can see the empty ones racked up at
this season, waiting for the next crops to come in to fill them up.

Trains are much more used here as you might gather.  Trucks are only used to
get things to and from the nearest train station <g>.

DS> Happy New Year! (a little late for you, on the "far side" of the date
DS> line! [g])

Thanks!  Had a good one.  Now back at work.
                                       xxcarol

--- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4
 * Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS, Sasebo Japan 81-6160-527330 (6:757/1)