Giant perfect carrots from the JA store nearby

"JA (Japan Agricultural Co-operative) is organized in every prefecture and municipality throughout the country, based on the principle of mutual cooperation, with the purpose of protecting farming and living of its individual members. To this end, JAs are engaged in various activities including farm guidance, marketing of farm products, supplies of production inputs, credit and mutual insurance businesses, while they are referred to as "multi-purpose agricultural co-operatives". Almost of the farmers in Japan join the respective JA as regular members, while non-farmers as associate members are increasingly affiliated with JAs to enjoy their services such as credit and mutual insurance."