Seven-Eleven Okinawa Develops New Dairy Products Using Summer Milk Surplus

Jun 07, 2026 | News On Japan

NAHA - Seven-Eleven Okinawa and local dairy farmers have begun working together to find new uses for milk produced during the summer vacation period, when school lunch programs are suspended and demand for fresh milk declines.

Seven-Eleven Okinawa is developing new products, including bread and sweets, made with locally produced milk that would otherwise face reduced demand during the school holidays. Representatives from the convenience store chain visited a dairy farm in Yaese on June 4th to hear directly from producers about the challenges facing the industry.

More than 30% of Okinawa's milk production is supplied to school lunch programs, creating a significant imbalance between supply and demand during the summer break. The initiative is expected to help address the need to manage more than 1,000 tons of milk during the holiday period while creating new sales channels for Okinawa-produced dairy products.

Michiyo Taba, a director of the Okinawa Dairy Agricultural Cooperative Association, welcomed the effort.

"What had long been a major concern for producers during periods when schools were closed has now been transformed into processed products that can be enjoyed by local residents. This is a great source of satisfaction for dairy farmers," Taba said.

The new products are scheduled to go on sale in early August.

Source: OTV

Typhoon No. 7 Mekkhala Could Fuel Heavy Rain Across Japan Next Week

As of 9 p.m. on June 20, Typhoon No. 7 (Mekkhala) was gradually developing over waters far south of Japan and is expected to strengthen into a strong typhoon early next week before possibly moving toward the Sakishima Islands, while moist air around the storm could later feed a rainy season front stalled near Honshu and raise the risk of heavy rain across western and eastern Japan.

Japan Finds Unexpected Support in Monterrey

Japan will face Tunisia in its second match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 21 in Monterrey, a northern Mexican city known for its mountains, modern skyline and unexpectedly strong connections with Japan.

Risk Of Major Mosquito Outbreak This Summer

Mosquitoes are appearing earlier than usual this year, raising fears of a major summer outbreak as experts warn that warm May weather and repeated light rain have created ideal breeding conditions across residential areas.

Bears Growing More Aggressive in June and July

Bear attacks and sightings are increasing across Japan, with multiple people injured on June 17 and experts warning that bears are becoming more accustomed to human environments, potentially leading to more dangerous and unpredictable encounters in the years ahead.

Supreme Class Debuts on Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen

JR Central and JR West on June 17 announced pricing and service details for the new private-room seating that will be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen from October, creating a new top-tier class above the existing Green Car service.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

Hakodate Bets On Stinky Natto-Flavored Snack

A snack with the pungent smell and flavor of natto has been developed in Hakodate, Hokkaido, using no natto bacteria but delivering an aroma strong enough to make people react the moment the bag is opened.

Black, Glossy Watermelons Head for First Auction

Harvesting began on June 18 for Densuke watermelons, a specialty of Toma in Hokkaido known for their glossy black rind, crisp texture and rich sweetness, with the season’s first auctions scheduled for June 19 at markets in Sapporo and Asahikawa.

Freshly Harvested Corn Surpass Melon in Sweetness

The harvest of fruit-like sweet corn has reached its peak in Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, where farmers begin picking before dawn to preserve the crop's high sugar content and freshness.

24 Hours of Discovering Yokohama’s Latest Food Spots!

Japan byFood featuring Shizuka spends 24 hours exploring Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city located just 30 minutes south of Tokyo.

Raiden Watermelon Fetches Record 400,000 Yen at First Auction

The first auction of Raiden Watermelon, a specialty product of Kyowa in Hokkaido's Shiribeshi region, was held in Sapporo on June 9th, with a pair of melons fetching a record-high 400,000 yen.

Seven-Eleven Okinawa Develops New Dairy Products Using Summer Milk Surplus

Seven-Eleven Okinawa and local dairy farmers have begun working together to find new uses for milk produced during the summer vacation period, when school lunch programs are suspended and demand for fresh milk declines.

Premium Plum Harvest Shrinks for Third Straight Year Despite Larger Fruit

The harvest of Nanko plums, a specialty product of Minabe Town in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan's largest ume-producing region, has reached its peak, with farmers busy gathering the highly prized fruit despite another disappointing crop year.

Japan's Squeezed Consumers to Pig Out on Itoham's Low-Cost 'Sunny Price' Ham

Major meat processor Itoham announced on June 5th that it will launch a new lower-priced product line next month as companies continue to grapple with rising costs driven by inflation and instability in the Middle East.

< 2 3 4 5 >