Pal System Saitama to Host Family-Oriented Rice Farming Experience, Connecting Consumers with Producers

Pal System Saitama Co-op will hold a rice planting event at its 'Community Rice Paddy' in Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 30, 2026. In collaboration with the direct-from-farm producer group Minami-Saitama Sanchoku Network, about 15 member families will interact with producers over four sessions lasting approximately four months until the harvest in September, engaging in activities like weeding and observing paddy field wildlife.

Experiencing the Life-Nurturing Paddy Field The program allows participants to experience the entire process from rice planting to weeding, wildlife observation, and harvesting. At the first event, participants will step directly into the paddy under the guidance of producers to plant seedlings of 'Sai-no-Kizuna,' a Saitama Prefecture brand of rice, one by one.

Families who wish to can also plant a seedling in a bucket to take home and observe its growth. A dedicated open chat group will allow participants to share their progress with each other.

Following the planting, participants will visit every two weeks for weeding, experiencing firsthand the effort required to grow rice without relying on pesticides. The paddy, cultivated with environmentally friendly methods, is home to a variety of creatures. During breaks from weeding, participants can observe this wildlife and appreciate the paddy's role in nurturing life. The Minami-Saitama Sanchoku Network producers will manage the paddy until the harvest season.

After the harvest, a rice ball-making workshop will be held using the harvested rice, completing a year-long experience of the journey from farm to table.

'Iwatsuki Rice Paddy Exchange' Event Overview - **Dates:** - Session 1: May 30, 2026 (Sat) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Session 2: June 13, 2026 (Sat) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Session 3: June 27, 2026 (Sat) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Session 4: September 26, 2026 (Sat) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - **Venue:** Community Rice Paddy (Murakuni, Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City) - **Participants:** Approximately 15 member families

Deepening Mutual Understanding Through Year-Round Exchange Minami-Saitama Sanchoku Network has long promoted environmentally-conscious agriculture that avoids reliance on chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. In 2011, it established the Saitama Sanchoku Council 'No-Sai-Do' along with the Yokodokai producer group and the Pal System Co-operative Union.

The council promotes the development of agriculture and environmental conservation within the prefecture through producer-consumer interaction and local production for local consumption. Through year-round exchange programs like the 'Iwatsuki Rice Paddy Exchange,' it aims to deepen mutual understanding and trust with its members.

Pal System Saitama will continue to strengthen its collaboration with local producers to pursue sustainable production and consumption.