A town in northern Hokkaido is getting ready to start shipping a winter delicacy to the rest of the country. Farmers there are now digging up cabbages that have been preserved under snow since the autumn.

Harvesting of so-called wintering cabbages is in full swing in Wassamu Town. They are planted and preserved by about 60 farming households.

The town has an average temperature of zero degrees Celsius and gets more than one meter of snow per month from December to March.

During this time, the cabbages are stored under 70 centimeters of snow. A local agricultural cooperative says this keeps them fresh and increases their sugar content.

Each cabbage weighs about two kilograms. They will be available for delivery until the middle of March.