TOKYO, SEPT 10 – Peaches from Fukushima can now be bought at London luxury department store Harrods in Japan’s efforts to ease concerns about produce grown in the region hit by the nuclear disaster.
A box containing three large white peaches sold for 80 pounds (US$100) where they were first sold in stores in Europe.
Before the 2011 nuclear crisis, Fukushima was known as the ‘world of fruits,’ famous in Japan for a variety of delicious fruits, including peaches, grapes, pears and cherries.
But after the tsunami caused by the earthquake triggered the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, consumers fear it could harm their health and affect their sales.
Although the area around the stricken Fukushima Daiichi power station was evacuated for fear of radiation effects, farms throughout the region were uncontaminated.
Before being shipped to stores, all farm and fishery products from Japan’s northeastern region now undergo strict radiation inspections.
Harrods started selling peaches last Saturday, part of a reputation-building initiative by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), operator of the Fukushima plant. – AFP
