In and around Futtsu City, there are many markets and direct sales stands where you can buy fresh vegetables grown with care by local farmers. The big appeal of direct sales is that you can get rare vegetables that you can’t find in supermarkets and freshly harvested seasonal flavors at reasonable prices. This time, we have compiled a list of recommended fresh vegetable markets that locals frequent.

First up is the Futtsu City Agricultural Cooperative Association (JA) Direct Sales Shop, which has a wide variety of local specialties. Here, seasonal vegetables are lined up in a row. You can feel the changing seasons from the vegetables lined up on the shelves, such as rape blossoms and bamboo shoots in spring, tomatoes and corn in summer, sweet potatoes in autumn, and radish and Chinese cabbage in winter. The good thing is that the name of the producer is often listed, so you can buy with confidence.

Also, don’t miss the local morning market held on weekends. At small markets where local farmers directly load their vegetables onto light trucks and come to sell them, you can shop while enjoying a conversation with the producers directly. One of the best parts of face-to-face sales is being able to learn about delicious cooking and preservation methods, such as “How do you recommend eating this vegetable?”

Don’t miss the farmers’ direct sales corner attached to the roadside station. Nearby places like Roadside Station Yasuda Elementary School'' and Roadside Station Kisarazu Ukita-no-Sato’’ have a wide variety of processed products made from not only vegetables but also local specialties, so you can enjoy them while looking for souvenirs during your sightseeing trip.

Fresh and nutritious local vegetables will greatly enhance the flavor of your dishes. When you go for a drive in the Futtsu area, why not bring a cooler box and bring home lots of fresh vegetables.