Once a week, as a special feature, we will share messages from supporters of ARI.
In this third installment, we introduce a “Food is …” message from Rika Mezura of Yotsuba Co-op.

“Food is… Life”

To me, food is what builds our minds and bodies. “Chisan-chisho,” or local production for local consumption, is what creates peace of mind. I believe that trust in our food comes not just from safety, but from being able to trace its story back to the source. To nurture healthy minds and bodies, to protect the value of what we eat, and to deliver true peace of mind to our customers, we put importance on local production for local consumption to ensure traceability.

What is Yotsuba Co-op? We promote direct-from-producer sales and local production for local consumption, delivering safe and trustworthy ingredients to your home. Based on our own unique product standards, we prioritize domestic products and exclude imported ingredients, food additives, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as much as possible.

Announcement Yotsuba Co-op will be participating in the Asian Rural Institute’s Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration Day. We invite all who are interested to attend. ARI Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration Day Announcement Page: https://ari.ac.jp/htc-2025/

Peace from Food Donation Campaign
Starting Friday, August 1, 2025!
 Campaign website: https://ari.ac.jp/donate/peace2025/en?ari=news
From August 1, Asian Rural Institute is running the “Peace from Food” Donation Campaign.
Throughout the month of August, we are sharing voices from our community members and supporters on Instagram and Facebook Stories, centered around the theme “What does food mean to you?”
All past stories can also be viewed on our Instagram Highlights.