On March 10, U CO-OP* set up a greenhouse "U CO-OP Yamato Farm" on the site of its Recycling Center at Yamato City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and started growing cloud ear mushrooms.

  

On March 17, an opening ceremony of the farm was held, and instead of the normal ribbon-cutting, the cutting of cloud ear mushroom beds was done. It was explained that when water is given to the fungus bed, cloud ear mushrooms will grow out of the cut area.

   

① To expand work opportunities for people with disabilities within U CO-OP:

Cultivation and processing of cloud ear mushrooms are tasks that are suitable for people with disabilities, so they can make full use of their abilities.

② To help ensure sustainable management of the recycling center:

In preparation for changes in the recovered paper market and the shift to becoming paperless, we will work on this as a new source of revenue.

The best season for fresh cloud ear mushrooms is summer.

From early summer to autumn, cloud ear mushrooms will be available at the stores and home delivery outlets of U CO-OP. The harvested cloud ear mushrooms will be processed into dried products at the Yamato Farm. The finished products will be available at U CO-OP's stores and home delivery throughout the year.

The photo shows a package of dried cloud ear mushrooms. It was illustrated by Mr. MATSUI, a part-time employee at the recycling center who loves to draw.

The product name "Everyone's cloud ear mushroom" expresses U CO-OP's wish to nurture the product with "everyone" at U CO-OP, including its members and the people with disabilities who work on the farm.

* U CO-OP is a consumer co-op with a membership of approximately 1.81 million. It is engaged in businesses such as store, home delivery, and welfare in Kanagawa, Shizuoka, and Yamanashi prefectures.