Half of Japan's stockpiled rice sought by retailers under new scheme

More than 30 companies have applied to purchase over half of the 300,000 tons of stockpiled rice Japan plans to release through direct sales contracts with major retailers, the farm ministry said Tuesday, just a day after launching a new scheme to curb elevated rice prices.Applicants, including supermarket giant Aeon Co., discount store chain Don Quijote, and e-commerce operator Rakuten Group Inc., will gain access to rice stockpiles produced in 2021 and 2022 at roughly half the price compared to the previous auction-based method.As of 2 p.m., a total of 33 companies had signed up for 157,0…READ FULL ARTICLE