Product Summary (Registration No.104)

Registration No.104 河北せり

Registered name (Transcription) : 河北せり（Kahoku Seri）,Kahoku Dropwort
Reference information : Kahoku Dropwort

Category of product

Class 1 : Products of Agricultural Origin (Dropwort) 

Production Area

Miyagi Prefecture Administrative place name as of March 31, 2005:
Kahoku Town, Monou County (current Ainoya, Nakajima, Saragai, Magura and Kofunakoshi of Ishinomaki City)

Registered Group

Kahoku Dropwort Promotion Association

Characteristics

Compared to more common types of seri (water dropwort) produced elsewhere in the country, the edible stem and leaf parts of Kahoku Seri is typically longer, often growing to over 50 cm. Kahoku Seri also stays fresh for longer.
In Ishinomaki, this seri has traditionally been served pickled or dressed in broth. The stem close to the root is especially prized for its texture, and the vegetable has been highly rated by the market for the optimal lengths and thicknesses of edible stem and leaf parts. The superior visible appearance of stems and leaves is also highly appreciated, a result of careful attention invested in shape and freshness before and during shipment.
Kahoku Seri available in spring is particularly valued as the sole variety of spring seri available at Ishinomaki Market, and a local product, at that. Not many producers in the country grow varieties of spring seri because they take longer to grow, have shorter harvesting times, and are very difficult to keep fresh.

Link with the Production Area

Natural conditions in and around the Kitakami Mountain Range area--abundant supply of subsoil water from the mountains, for one--makes the local area ideal for the production of seri, which requires large amounts of water during growth. Seri is grown in dedicated fields flooded extra-deep with water. Stable and ready availability of abundant groundwater contributes to Kahoku Seri's longer edible stem and leaf lengths. Stringent quality control is implemented to maintain the product's freshness--harvested products are prepared for shipment very swiftly, and carefully washed with plenty of groundwater.