It All Started with a Desire to "Support Our Local Farmers"
CaPLANT's food business began with the desire of our company's former president, a native of Nantan City, Kyoto, to "help our local farmers."
There are vegetables that, despite being delicious, never even get harvested and are instead left to be disposed of in the fields simply because their color or shape doesn't meet market standards. This "invisible food loss" was happening in our own backyard.
Upon learning this fact, we, a company whose main focus had been the energy sector, decided to take on a challenge in the completely new field of food. We established V&V Co., Ltd. and launched the "Rakuyu" brand.
Our Three Promises
These are vegetables that don't make it to the market simply because they are irregularly shaped, though they are just as delicious. We visit the farmers directly to purchase these non-standard vegetables.
To save farmers the trouble of sorting, we buy their produce in bulk as "unsorted," mixing both standard and non-standard items. This is a core initiative of our business that not only helps support farmers' income but also contributes to the reduction of food loss that doesn't even appear in statistics (a part of the SDGs).
We want to deliver products that everyone, from babies to adults, can enjoy with peace of mind. With this in mind, all our products are additive-free, made without any preservatives, artificial colorings, or fragrances.
Furthermore, vegetables are "living things" whose flavor and moisture content change subtly with the weather. To deliver them in their most delicious state, we value the process of cooking each one carefully by hand, adapting to the condition of the vegetables at that specific time.
The star of our products, the vegetables, are all grown within Kyoto Prefecture. Additionally, the milk used in our jams and puddings is "Miyama Milk," produced with great care by just three dairy farmers in the nature-rich town of Miyama, Kyoto.
We are committed to using the bounty of our local Kyoto, selecting only safe ingredients from producers we can see and trust.
Bringing the Blessings of Kyoto to Your TableIntroducing "Rakuyu" products. We've packed all the deliciousness of Kyoto vegetables, cultivated with love by our farmers.
We deliver the taste of Kyoto to your daily table.
Available in three varieties: tomato, sweet potato, and soybean. This jam is so sweet and savory it's like a dessert. It's perfect not only with bread and yogurt but also as a secret ingredient in your cooking.
A rich pudding that lets you enjoy the full flavor of its ingredients, such as corn, black soybean, and pumpkin. Please enjoy the original, gentle sweetness of vegetables as a dessert.
Made with an abundance of Kyoto vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and cabbage, this soup will warm your body and soul. It's perfect for a quick breakfast on a busy day.
The Meaning Behind "Rakuyu" and "KYO-MUSUBI"
Our business brand, "Rakuyu," was named with the character "洛" (Raku), which refers to Kyoto, and the character "結" (Yu/Musubi), which embodies our desire to "connect" farmers, customers, and society. It represents our wish to cherish every connection born from this business and build lasting relationships with everyone.
The "KYO-MUSUBI" product logo was the winning entry from a student design contest we held to create a logo for the "Rakuyu" brand. The design, which uses the motif of a "mizuhiki" (a traditional decorative cord for tying gifts), represents the "connections" we cherish with farmers, customers, and society. We felt it was the most fitting expression of our philosophy. It has now become an important symbol of our values, adorning all our products.
From Kyoto to the WorldThanks to our supporters, "Rakuyu" products were first registered as a Furusato Nozei (Hometown Tax) return gift for Nantan City, and have since become available at local roadside stations and various other shops.
Our next goal is to become a brand that people think of when they hear "Kyoto souvenir." We aim to deliver these delicious Kyoto vegetables and our passion not only across Japan but also overseas.
We hope our message reaches everyone who picks up our products, creating positive connections from Kyoto to the nation, and eventually to the world. We will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through food.
