Photo= Nishimura holds carrots he cultivated in three different colors (Ojima, Kumiyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture)

Colorful vegetables, such as carrots in three colors and green peppers in five colors, are gaining popularity at the forest farmer's market "Shunsai no Sato" in Kumiyama Town, Kyoto Prefecture. They have been grown by Kumio Nishimura, a farmer in Ojima, Kumiyama Town. He enthusiastically said, "I want to surprise consumers with not only appearance and but also taste."

Nishimura inherited a farm when he was 22 years old, and had grown eggplants and rice. He started cultivating rare vegetables five years ago. That was triggered by his growing "Anominori," or an eggplant which can be eaten without cooking, based on advice from the Kyoto Prefecture Agricultural Development and Extension Association. The rare eggplant is as sweet as a tomato and has become popular among chefs at Italian restaurants and vegetable Meisters.

In addition to carrots in three colors, such as purple, yellow and orange, he is also currently attempting green peppers in five colors, such as purple, orange, yellow, white and another color, as well as white corn.

Since colorful vegetables are popular for sauces that accent cuisine and richly colorful salads, chefs and others purchase them. The young corn can also be eaten raw and is like a dessert. The farmer's market has fans who wait for the vegetables' arrival.

He said expectantly, "I am looking for and growing colorful, sweet vegetables. I would like people to eat them raw savoring the fresh, natural flavor." Carrots and young corns will be sold until around May 20. For further information, call the market at 075-632-7777.