Table 2 The basic data on the breweries to produce organic sake. They are small to medium-sized breweries and located in different regions. They are rather veteran breweries to produce organic sake with the experiences of about 10 to 20 years. Despite this, the ratios of organic sake to total is small for the four breweries. Though one brewery produces organic rice for itself, the others buy from a small number of farms. The breweries can sell organic sake as organic without a JAS certificate in Japan. They are requested legally to comply with the Organic Labelling Standards of Sake among Others of National Tax Agency [14]
Brewery A | Brewery B | Brewery C | Brewery D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brewery location | Tōhoku | Hokuriku | Chūgoku | Chūbu |
Year of company creation | 1973 | Sometime in 1818–1831 | 1867 | 1738 |
Year of incorporation | 1973 | 1950 | 1952 | 1970s |
Capital fund | 150 million yen | 51 million yen | 10 million yen | 214 million yen |
No. of employees | About 140 | 19 | 9 | 17 |
No. of non-regular or part-time employees | About 40 | About 10 | 4 | 3 |
Annual sake production | 2343 kl | 252 kl | 180 kl | 450 kl |
Annual brewing capacity | 5400 kl | 540 kl | 360 kl | 900 kl |
Average rice-polishing ratio | 60 to 65% | 67 to 68% | 60% | 68% |
Year to start organic sake production | 2002 | About 2011 | 2007 | About 2000 |
Annual production of organic sake | 42 kl | 4.3 kl | About 3.1 kl | 36 kl |
The ratio of organic sake to annual production (%) | 1.8% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 8.0% |
Average polishing ratio of organic rice | 60% | 70% | 70% | 62 to 63% |
The amount of organic rice to purchase | 32,160 kg | 3600 kg | 2800 kg | |
No. of supplying organic rice producers | 4 or 5 | 1 | Self-supply | 4 |
Organic certification in a brewery | JONA, EU, COR | JAS, EU, USDA |