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Saori’s Kale Business: A Story of Female Entrepreneur

November 14, 2024

Chisato Nakatsugawa and Sora Matsuo



The frequency of seeing kale in Japan is perhaps less than in other countries. If so, only a few would know how delicious kale is. Saori Nakajima has been farming for 15 years, mainly in Ota city, Gunma Prefecture. Her business vision was clear and positive to engage with social issues and nature through the cultivation of multiple vegetables such as kale and eggplant, and to consume vegetables in a delicious way. Its Initiative was in line with ESG perspectives, which are the pillars of modern business.



Kale, An Ecological Vegetable

 

Kale is a vegetable that can please both farmers and consumers. Currently, Saori Nakajima focuses on the cultivation of kale and practices environmentally friendly agriculture. The good thing about kale is that it has a long storage period due to its low water content. It is also valued as a sustainable foodstuff because its freshness lasts longer without the use of preservatives or conservatives. So, it can be kept fresh and taste good. These advantages make kale an attractive vegetable. Not only that, but the presence of a cultivated environment also has good effects, such as ensuring an environment where organisms can spend time. This ecological way of growing kale is having positive impacts even on social issues.


Multi Purpose of Kale


Saori Nakajima also tackles social issues and supports the local community. In Japan, the number of workers in the agricultural sector is rapidly decreasing due to the aging population. According to the Japanese ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ research, the average age of agriculture workers was over 67 in 2020. Therefore, she actively promotes welcoming the foreign workers and establishing a system which creates a safe and secure working environment by providing housing and sharing the ways and tips of local life. For example, she supports foreign workers’ contracts of housing with a local real estate company.


Furthermore, she is contributing to promote healthy life and food culture in the society through her kale business. Kale is highly nutritious, especially rich in calcium and vitamins. When you stir fry a Kale dish, it goes well with other ingredients because it can absorb so much umami from the meat and fish. It also makes a good match with fruits. Although kale is not yet very familiar to the Japanese, she is working to ensure it becomes more popular in the near future. 

The kale business is also creating more jobs, helping to enhance both the agricultural industry and the local community.



Kale Salad


Saori Way of Business


Saori Nakajima is sure that following the deadline as planned like a manufacturing business plays an important role in the agriculture business, too. It seems simple, but some workers cannot offer their production on schedule because of the weather. She strongly believes that providing kale right on schedule is also as important as producing high quality kale for her contract business. It is necessary to build a good relationship with retailers and the local community. Therefore, she has a professional mind such as her responsibility.


She has a strong idea that even substandard vegetables have some value as goods. Recently, people started to care about sustainable society, and substandard harvests are also focused.  “Some company offered me to give them substandard vegetables for free.” She thinks asking her for it is a rude thing, because she and other professional farmers cultivate all products for the purpose of selling in the first place. 


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