After their farm was ravaged by swine fever, Kinna Farm launches a food truck to aid their rebuilding process, featuring the “Gochiso-sando,” made with local ingredients

After their farm was ravaged by swine fever, Kinna Farm launches a food truck to aid their rebuilding process, featuring the “Gochiso-sando,” made with local ingredients

Shinobu Kinna in front of the Kinner’s food truck, which hopes to raise awareness about consuming locally produced food.


November 26, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Okinawa City – Kina Farm in Ikehara, Okinawa City, which had to cull 3,012 pigs in January this year after being hit with classical swine fever (CSF), is undertaking a new challenge as part of their rebuilding process. With a goal of spreading awareness about eating locally, the farm opened Kinner’s food truck in September. Shinobu Kinna, 38, a representative for the farm, pleaded, “We don’t want people to forget about CSF,” calling for Okinawans to consume locally produced food.
Kinna saw the extermination of all of the pigs she had raised herself. In order to not forget about the CSF pandemic that hit her farm, she wears a pendant that says “January 2020” marking the outset of the disease, which she wears at all times. “The outbreak is burden I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I vow to definitely rebuild.” In August we started raising sows again, and currently we are up to 64 pigs. They are looking to start shipping pigs in the autumn of 2021.

The “Gochiso-sando,” made using locally sourced ingredients, and the food truck’s original drinks.


As part of the rebuilding process, they came up with the idea of the food cart offering food made using their pork and other locally sourced ingredients. “We think that because we have a place to offer the food that we do our best,” she said encouragingly. With help from local groceries and restaurants, they are selling and sandwiches with additive-free bread, and original drinks. Chef Satoshi Shiohira, 36, puts together dishes using ingredients like grilled pork and fermented vegetables, brining out the flavors of each of the ingredients.
The outbreak of CSF highlighted the importance of buying locally and supporting the farmers who produce the food we eat. “If buying locally produced food can create a support structure for local farmers, it can lead to fostering new farmers. We want Okinawans to learn about the makers of their food, and to enjoy food made with local ingredients.” This idea led them to name their sandwich the “Gochiso-sando” (sandwich made from the land). The food truck will travel all around Okinawa, and they hope it will lead to raising awareness about consuming locally produced food.
Currently, the food truck operates every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Urumarche in Uruma as their base of operations, making their rounds throughout the prefecture. In December, they also plan to start setting up shop in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island as well. For details, you can visit Kinner’s Instagram account.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

Go to Japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]