Many vegetables retain their nutrients well even after freezing. In particular, vegetables suitable for freezing or those properly prepared may even be more nutritious than fresh vegetables. Those with this knowledge, including those in the food service industry, are increasingly using frozen vegetables. This trend is clearly reflected in the fact that frozen vegetable imports have reached record highs for two consecutive years. Imports account for 90% of Japan’s frozen vegetable supply, with approximately half coming from China. Despite political tensions, relations with China remain strong in the food sector. Frozen vegetable imports for 2025 are projected to reach a record high of 1,250,272 tons. This figure represents a 5% increase from the previous year and a 34% increase compared to 10 years ago. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the supply of domestically produced vegetables remains unstable. This is driving the growing demand for imported frozen vegetables as a substitute for domestic produce.
From October to November 2023, the volume of tomatoes entering the market was significantly lower than the previous year. In mid-October, the volume of tomatoes arriving at the Tokyo Central Wholesale Market was down 60% compared to the same period last year. Shipments from major producing regions such as Hokkaido and Chiba were particularly reduced. The usual price of tomatoes is around 360 yen per kilogram. However, by mid-October, this had soared to 1060 yen per kilogram, double the price of the same period last year. The reason for this drastic decrease was the high temperatures this summer, which resulted in numerous cases of fruit failure. The high temperatures caused poor growth in various regions, leading to a significant drop in production. This tomato shortage and price surge are also affecting restaurants. Due to the shortage of domestically produced tomatoes, restaurants are “quickly increasing imports from the United States and Canada to make ends meet.”
Imported frozen vegetables, unaffected by domestic harvests, are generally considered to have the advantage of being more affordable than domestically produced fresh vegetables. However, the situation is slowly changing. In recent years, the price of frozen vegetables has risen by about 30% compared to 10 years ago, due to the weak yen and increased logistics costs. The weak yen has driven up import prices, making them less affordable compared to fresh vegetables. The average import price in 2025 is projected to be 275 yen per kilogram, a 30% increase from 10 years ago. As imported frozen vegetables have become less expensive, there are also movements to explore the use of domestically produced alternatives. These efforts involve procuring large quantities of vegetables and other raw materials when they are cheap, processing them into prepared foods, and then freezing them to lower costs. In addition, some companies are selling frozen vegetables made from off-spec produce that could not be sold as fresh produce. To ensure a stable supply of domestically produced frozen vegetables, it is necessary to mechanize production and processing to increase efficiency. Achieving this requires collaboration with agricultural organizations and government agencies to develop production areas, as there are limits to what companies can do alone.
