According to a survey, Ibaraki prefecture is ranked as the least attractive prefecture in Japan. There are many stories that explain why. For example, the Shinkansen, a Japanese bullet train, runs through the city but doesn’t make any stops there. For me, however, Ibaraki is indeed attractive because there are a lot of corrugated companies.
Ibaraki produces the second largest volume of agricultural products in Japan, next to the Hokkaido region. In particular, the city is proud of producing more melons, cauliflowers, chestnuts, green peppers, and lotus roots than any other Japanese prefectures.
Managing director of the Intermediate Wholesaler of fruit and vegetables who I have known for some time and is very proud of the Ibaraki Prefecture said: Due to various farm products and its good harvest, the Ibaraki farmers find no need of individual marketing strategies. However, I expect them to make every farm product more appealing. In the supermarket you will find corrugated boxes with farm products that have been unchanged for decades: Linerboards made of kraft paper with solid printing (printing with 100% ink coverage of one color) of only words and no image without a branding strategy.
However, lotus roots in extremely beautiful boxes were displayed at the supermarket recently. (see the photo) A big lotus root was packed in a beautiful both-side printed corrugated box from JA Namegata in Namegata-city. The right side of the box showed a beautiful photo of a white lotus root, while the back side of the cover introduced recipes using each part of the lotus root such as boiled, fried, oiled and steamed dishes.
Previously, a 1 kilogram A-case packed with 3 to 4 lotus roots was known as the basic packaging box for delivering. Now it has changed to a beautiful packaging case. My opinion about lotus roots has changed since I saw the packaging.
Except on New Year’s Day, I don’t eat lotus roots in daily life. However, with the new packaging it makes me want to eat them once a week. If boxes become more attractive, sales will increase. As corrugated industry manufacturers, we would like to make an effort to help the agricultural industry by making appealing boxes that increase sales.
Boxes of lotus roots displayed at the supermarket
