Agriture's sustainability activities using off-spec and unused vegetables. We upcycle vegetables that lose their place due to poor appearance into dried processed products, dried fruit, and novelties. A Kyoto initiative that achieves both reducing food loss in agriculture and supporting food manufacturers' product development.
Challenges We Address Making use of off-spec vegetables
Off-spec vegetables lose their place, their value unrecognized due to poor appearance even though the deliciousness is the same. Even if they're off-spec, the thought and effort the farmers put in are the same. "We want to raise the value of off-spec vegetables and face reducing food loss and the survival of agriculture"—Agriture began from such a thought.
Giving new value to non-standard vegetables with nowhere to go
Building a system that doesn’t waste farmers’ effort and devotion
Achieving both food loss reduction and the survival of agriculture at once
Agriture's Initiatives
Making use of off-spec vegetables
We upcycle off-spec vegetables that lose their place, their value unrecognized due to poor appearance even though the deliciousness is the same.
Win-win transactions
Off-spec vegetables are generally offered a low price at buyback. We buy them from producers at a fair price.
Processing structure through agriculture-welfare collaboration
For the primary processing of vegetables, we take a structure of partnering with welfare facilities in the same region as the processing plant. We aim to create employment within the region.
Solutions Dried vegetables / dried fruit
Off-spec vegetables that can't reach the market, seen as low-value merely because of differences in shape or size, even though their flavor and quality are unchanged. The effort and affection the farmers poured in are unchanged. Agriture processes such off-spec vegetables into dried vegetables and dried fruit, raising shelf life and added value, advancing an effort to reduce food loss and protect the future of agriculture.
Long-term storage of about 180 days at room temperature is possible
Lightweight and compact, easy to distribute and carry
Easy to use—just add it to your cooking
Examples of Upcycling Off-Spec Vegetables
In addition to selling them ourselves, we handle novelty production, raw material wholesale, and OEM contract processing.
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Dried vegetables / sun-dried vegetables
We dry-process off-spec vegetables with our own method, concentrating the ingredient's original flavor and nutrition. Long-term storage of about 180 days at room temperature is possible, achieving both reduced food loss and convenience.
Just rehydrate them in water and they're easy to use for soups, simmered dishes, takikomi gohan, and more, accommodating a wide range from home to commercial use. We can roll them out in specifications matched to the use, from small packs to large commercial volumes.
Upcycled raw material using off-spec vegetables
180-day room-temperature storage eases the burden of inventory and logistics
Accommodating a wide range from home use and commercial use to OEM raw material
Dried fruit
We dry-process fruit that can't reach the market due to shape or size, making the most of the ingredient's sweetness without relying on sugar or additives. We deliver the fruit's own flavor and nutrition as-is.
It can be used as an eat-as-is snack, of course, and also as granola, bakery, confectionery ingredients, and gift materials. As a "guilt-free snack" answering rising health consciousness, demand is expanding in both B2B and B2C.
Upcycled products using off-spec fruit
The ingredient's own flavor with no sugar or additives
Multi-use rollout across confectionery ingredients, gifts, and retail products
Vegetable tea
We roast vegetable peels, leaves, and off-spec items that would usually be discarded, finishing them into a fragrant, easy-to-drink tea. Vegetables' nutrition and aroma, in a form you can easily enjoy as a daily cup.
Because it's caffeine-free and can be drunk with peace of mind by everyone from children to the elderly, it's well received as a health-conscious product, a gift, and a menu ingredient for hotels and cafés. OEM support customizing the ingredient combination and roast level is also possible.
Upcycled tea using vegetable peels, leaves, and off-spec items
Caffeine-free, accommodating a wide range of generations
Also accommodating custom OEM for blend and roast
Vegetable coffee
A new-genre beverage raw material that deeply roasts off-spec vegetables, drawing out a deep richness and fragrance like coffee. It contains no caffeine and lets you easily take in vegetables' nutrition in liquid form.
It can approach segments that conventional coffee couldn't reach—new café menus, health-conscious products, and gift materials for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. We accommodate shapes such as powder and drip pack upon consultation.
Upcycled beverage roasting off-spec vegetables
Caffeine-free, so it can be enjoyed regardless of time or condition
Provided in shapes matched to the use, such as powder and drip
We have materials available to help you understand vegetable-based novelties
SDGs-friendly products using non-standard vegetables
We can accommodate speedy delivery from as short as 2 weeks to about 1 month from consultation. We also take on manufacturing from small lots, so please consult us.
Manufacturing possible from about 50 pouches
A track record of delivery in as short as 2 weeks
Able to accommodate sudden promotional events too
Usage Images for Dried Vegetable Novelties
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For distribution inside a trade show booth
We manufacture gifts of a size easy to hand out at trade shows and events. Despite a compact specification that won't burden the recipient's luggage, it's a portion that can make up for a day's shortfall of vegetables.
A gift of gratitude to customers
We also take on manufacturing special-feeling gift boxes that convey a company anniversary or gratitude to customers. We also accommodate original designs as needed.
A gift for health-conscious customers
A vegetable tea blending spices, herbs, and more with dried vegetables made by drying domestically grown vegetables. It's ideal for health-conscious novelties.
A message from the CEO
Value for vegetables with nowhere to go.
Hello, I’m Rei Kojima, CEO of Agriture Inc. Born and raised in Kyoto, what I encountered while studying agriculture at university was the reality of “non-standard vegetables”—produce that loses its place simply for being uneven in shape or size. Vegetables that farmers raised with great care cannot sell at fair prices.
Wanting to face that issue, I founded this company while still a student.
Being in a win-win relationship with farmers. That is our origin, and it remains our unwavering axis today. Giving new value to non-standard vegetables and serving as a “greengrocer” that connects farmers and consumers, we work on the survival of agriculture and food loss reduction.
By drying vegetables or making them into powder, they can be stored for a long time, and off-spec and surplus vegetables can be used without waste. It becomes possible to supply stably even during disasters and off-seasons, delivering reliably to where it's needed.
Goal
Good Health and Well-Being for All
Centered on everyday vegetables, we process them simply without using additives. We can also work things like using no glucose, making it an ingredient easy to choose for health-conscious people and those with dietary restrictions.
Goal
Achieve Gender Equality
With our "vegetable yakuzen" program for companies, we support improving the diets of women employees in line with their health and life stage. We back their thriving at work and continuous career building.
Goal
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Through buying back off-spec vegetables and placing processing orders, we increase farmers' income sources. With a structure that even small-scale farmers can join, we support local employment and the economy.
Goal
Responsible Consumption and Production
We process and preserve vegetables that would be thrown away, and ship them when needed. By producing in a planned way to match demand, we avoid wasting resources.
Goal
Climate Action
In the Mekong River basin, coconut fruit yields are declining due to salt damage, but nectar collection is less affected, generating stable income even under climate change.
Goal
Protect Life on Land
We build sales channels and processing forms so that vegetables handed down in a region can keep being grown. Protecting diverse vegetables also leads to protecting farmland and ecosystems.
Goal
Achieve the Goals Through Partnership
We work together with domestic and overseas farmers and processing companies, including Sokfarm. We bring together each party's strengths, aiming for a form where both makers and users are pleased.
Download the novelty materials
We will send the materials to your email address based on the information you provide.
