2004 Volume 77 Issue 14 Pages 997-1009
In this paper, the author analyzes the distribution of rice under the changing food policy, focusing on the rice vinegar industry in Japan. Many nation-wide vinegar processors are increasingly dependent on minimum-access rice as their raw material, while locality-based processors tend to develop different strategies. A local case study in Miyazu, Kyoto Prefecture, was conducted to verify this trend.
The results were as follows. First, there has been little immediate impact of the change in the system of rice distribution on local enterprises. They emphasize the quality of material to position themselves as separate from big enterprises. This reinforces their relations with farm producers unlike big enterprises.
Second, local enterprises try to expand their product distribution across the country, as the case with big enterprises. However, the character of each market is different. Products of local enterprises have features that appeal to consumers based on safety and origin, making it possible for local enterprises to enter markets for premium food.
