How to Procure Horse Mackerels (Aji) by “the Home Land of Aji Fry” PR Cooperative Stores in Matsuura City, Nagasaki Prefecture

Abstract

This study clarified how PR cooperative stores provide meals to consumers under unstable food supply conditions by examining the methods used to purchase horse mackerel at restaurants cooperating in “the home land of aji fry” in Matsuura City, Nagasaki Prefecture. The questionnaire survey revealed that the PR cooperative stores include not only restaurants that are particular about cooking fresh and live fish, but also restaurants that purchase frozen products and sell them heated in hot snacks. In addition, many of the stores that purchased fresh and live fish had multiple suppliers. Behind this ability of PR cooperative stores to choose the method of purchasing horse mackerel suitable for their own operations were the provisions of the “aji fry charter,” which was established as a rule to be observed. In other words, the aji fry charter does not limit cooking and purchasing methods, allowing each store to choose non-frozen or one-frozen, or to broadly interpret where the fish is landed and where it is caught. As a result, PR cooperative stores can stock a variety of forms of horse mackerel to suit their own cooking methods. The stable provision of meals to consumers is essential for the sustainable operation of food tourism. This study points out the importance of food tourism research focusing on the purchase and procurement of foodstuffs by each entity.