U KNOW EN 2024

What U KNOW EN 2024 does

U KNOW EN (株式会社ゆうのうえん) is a privately held no-till vegetable farming company founded in 2021 by Miyamoto Yoko and headquartered in the Fujisawa/Samukawa/Ebina border area of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The company operates three farm sites producing seasonal open-field vegetables using 不耕起栽培 (no-till natural cultivation), a fertilizer- and pesticide-free method that relies on soil-microorganism biological activity and is described by the company as a regenerative approach to soil and water systems. Approximately 30 crop varieties are grown annually. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer channels — weekly Tuesday vegetable sales at partner venue HOMEROASTING 7325COFFEE in Fujisawa, regional farmers' market (marche) stalls, and the Ninjin Baton home-delivery subscription service (weekly or biweekly boxes of 5–10 seasonal varieties with pickup or home delivery) — supplemented by educational programming including the twice-monthly Hatake no Gakkou Mokudo farm school, the Kodomo Yukouennon children's program, mobile vegetable classes at public elementary schools and organic shops, and seasonal collaborative events. The customer base consists primarily of local Shonan-area residents, environmentally conscious consumers, families with children, public elementary schools, and food-service partners, with marketing conducted almost entirely through Instagram, Facebook, and in-person community engagement.

Name

U KNOW EN 2024

Legal name

株式会社ゆうのうえん

Website

https://uknowen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

U KNOW EN is a Kanagawa-based no-till vegetable farm founded in 2021 that sells seasonal produce directly to local consumers via 7325COFFEE, farmers' markets, and a home-delivery subscription, while running farm school, children's, and school outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Vegetable Farming

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Asparagus, Artichoke & Specialty Vegetable Farming (Asparagus, Artichokes, Celery, Okra) (AFAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA), Produce Markets & Greengrocers (CRAHAHAA)

Keywords

• No-till vegetable farming
• Organic produce sales
• Agricultural education programs
• Seasonal vegetable delivery
• Farm experience events

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct vegetable sales at 7325COFFEE: Weekly direct sales of naturally cultivated seasonal vegetables at the 7325COFFEE partner location in Shonan (Tuesdays). Customers purchase in person and engage in conversations about how vegetables are grown and what dishes suit them.
2. Ninjin Baton home delivery subscription: Seasonal vegetable box delivery service called 'Ninjin Baton' (carrot baton), delivered weekly or biweekly on a fixed day to customers' homes. Includes approximately 5-10 varieties, with volume varying by season. Supports soil regeneration activity as a form of community-supported agriculture.
3. Farmers' market (marche) sales: Direct sales of fresh seasonal vegetables at street-corner farmers' markets. Emphasizes plastic-free packaging, wrapping vegetables in water-filled bowls, newspaper, or cooling bags. Provides rare, in-season produce not commonly found in stores.
4. Outreach vegetable classes and workshops: Mobile vegetable education classes delivered at public elementary schools, organic shops, and other venues. Covers topics from no-till farming principles to broader food and environmental issues. Conducted in seminar format or experiential workshop style.
5. Farm school and event programs: Hatake no Gakkou Mokudo (farm school) and Kodomo Yukouennon (children's farm) programs held twice monthly, plus seasonal collaborative events (spring festival, Mother's Day cooking, harvest festival, etc.). Revenue derived from participant fees.
6. Shop collaboration (cooking classes and menu development): Collaborative cooking events and menu development using U KNOW EN vegetables with food-service partners. With approximately 30 crop varieties grown annually, the company supplies seasonal ingredients for partner menus. YOKO (founder) also provides explanatory commentary.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

U KNOW EN operates three no-till farms at the border of Fujisawa, Samukawa, and Ebina cities in Kanagawa Prefecture, cultivating approximately 30 varieties of seasonal vegetables without fertilizer or pesticides. The company sells produce through direct sales at 7325COFFEE, a home delivery subscription service (Ninjin Baton), farmers' market stalls, and partner store pickups, while also running farm school programs, children's nature programs, and mobile vegetable education classes at schools and organic shops.

Product overview

U KNOW EN is a traditional agriculture business (株式会社ゆうのうえん

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 畑の学校もくど: Seasonal farm work experience and outdoor cooking events held twice monthly. Open to families and individuals for hands-on agricultural education.
• 子どもゆうのうえん
• 出張！お野菜教室
• ニンジンバトン

Products and services

• No-till naturally cultivated vegetables (自然栽培のお野菜)
• Ninjin Baton vegetable subscription (ニンジンバトン)
• Hatake no Gakkou Mokudo farm school (畑の学校もくど)
• Kodomo Yu no Uen children's farm program (子どもゆうのうえん)
• Mobile vegetable education classes (出張！お野菜教室)
• Seasonal collaborative events (季節のコラボイベント)
• Shop collaboration cooking and menu development (お店コラボ)

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 7325COFFEE (HOMEROASTING)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor7325COFFEE is a green, hospitality-focused coffee shop run by an environmentally conscious couple. U KNOW EN conducts weekly Tuesday direct vegetable sales at this location. The shop owner (Satomi) is a fellow environmental activist and collaborator on environmental content shared on Instagram (@Heraz_guchi). The setting — a coffee shop environment — facilitates relaxed conversation between customers and the farmer about growing methods and cooking.
• Ecostore PapparagiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner store location for Ninjin Baton vegetable box pickup, offering an alternative delivery method for local customers that reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. Part of the company's environmentally conscious distribution strategy.
• Tsite-shonanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner store location for Ninjin Baton vegetable box pickup, serving the local Shonan community and enabling customers to receive their orders at a neighborhood location with reduced delivery emissions.
• Public elementary schools (regional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerU KNOW EN conducts outreach vegetable education classes at public elementary schools in the Shonan area. Programs are customized through pre-session meetings with teachers to align with curriculum goals and can be combined with science, social studies, home economics, or comprehensive learning time. Special vacation programs are also offered. These school partnerships are a primary GTM and community-building channel for the company.
• Organic shops (regional)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorU KNOW EN conducts outreach vegetable education workshops at organic shops in the region. These venues serve as both educational touchpoints and distribution channels, with shop owners sharing U KNOW EN's environmental philosophy with their customer base.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Imperfect Foods: US-based subscription service delivering produce and groceries, with a founding emphasis on reducing food waste and supporting regenerative farming. Comparable on subscription distribution model and sustainability positioning, though serving a much broader geography and product range.
• Misfits Market: US-based subscription service delivering produce, with an emphasis on sustainability and supporting environmentally conscious farmers. Comparable on subscription GTM and sustainability positioning, though operating at significantly larger national scale rather than a regional farm.
• Riverford Organic Farmers: UK-based organic vegetable box subscription scheme delivering seasonal produce directly from its own farms to households. Directly comparable to U KNOW EN's farm-direct subscription model, no-till/organic cultivation approach, and education-driven brand, though operating at materially larger scale.
• 坂ノ途中 (Sakano Tochuu): Kyoto-based company operating a seasonal vegetable subscription box service sourced from contracted natural-farming and organic growers across Japan. Directly comparable to U KNOW EN on the subscription produce model, natural-cultivation sourcing philosophy, and direct-to-consumer distribution focus.
• Abel & Cole: UK-based organic grocery and produce subscription service delivering seasonal vegetables and other items directly to households. Comparable on subscription model, organic sourcing philosophy, and direct-to-consumer GTM, though serving a broader grocery basket.

Emerging players

• マイファーム (My Farm): Japanese agricultural company focused on urban farming support, farm experience programs, and agricultural education. Comparable to U KNOW EN's experiential learning and educational GTM, but operating through supported-leasing and corporate programs rather than direct farm ownership.

Broad incumbents

• 生活クラブ (Seikatsu Club): Japanese consumer cooperative delivering produce and groceries with emphasis on producer relationships and reduced-chemical / naturally cultivated sourcing. Comparable on direct-to-consumer produce delivery with sustainability framing, but operating as a member-owned cooperative rather than a private farm.
• パルシステム (Pal System): Large Japanese consumer co-op delivering organic and specially cultivated produce and groceries to households in the Kanto and other regions. Comparable as an established subscription produce player serving environmentally conscious households, but operating at vastly greater scale with multiple product categories.
• 大地を守る会 (Daichi wo Mamoru Kai): Established Japanese organic food distributor founded in the 1970s delivering organic produce boxes and groceries nationwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the organic produce subscription space, though significantly larger in scale and operating across multiple product categories rather than a single farm.
• ナチュラルハーモニー (Natural Harmony): Japanese natural and organic foods retailer/distributor offering produce, groceries, and household goods. Comparable as a channel for naturally cultivated produce and environmentally conscious consumers, though broader in scope than U KNOW EN's farm-direct model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/u_know_en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U KNOW EN 2024