The Kuchikumano Kamitonda Yamamomo Kai, a group of volunteer residents of Kamitonda, Wakayama Prefecture, planted 20 saplings of the mountain peach, which is designated as the town tree, in a field in Oka, Wakayama Prefecture, on April 2. Mikie Kashiki, the representative of the group, said, "We would like to make it a specialty of the town and enliven the community.

The association was formed in 2015 with the aim of using yamamomo to enliven the town. With the permission of the owners, the group harvests or buys the fruits of the wild yam planted in the town's fields and gardens, processes them into syrup and candy, and sells them. Last year, they collected 1.6 tons.

As one of the efforts to make it a specialty product, the association decided to lease abandoned land (about 1,500 square meters) from the owner, clear it, and plant trees on it. The prefectural forestry experiment station, fruit tree experiment station, and the town will cooperate in the cultivation.

　Fourteen people participated in the planting, including members of the association, prefectural and town officials, and local farmers, who planted a total of 20 saplings of four varieties.

Representative Kashiki said, "We would like to expand community ties through the use of mountain peaches. We are looking for people who are interested in participating in our activities and are willing to help us cultivate the trees.

　Processed products are sold at the Kuchikumano Kamitonda Tourist Information Center run by the Yamamomo-kai in the JR Asago Station building in Asago, the same town.

For inquiries, contact the tourist information center (0739-33-9610) or Yamamotokai (080-9167-7163).