Hyundai Department Store to Promote Domestic Crop Varieties... Expanding Sales of Garlic and Corn

Hyundai Department Store has signed a business agreement (MOU) with the Rural Development Administration to promote the 'H-Seed Bank Project'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Hyundai Department Store announced on the 21st that it has signed a business partnership (MOU) with the Rural Development Administration to expand the sales of domestically bred agricultural products such as garlic, corn, and sweet potatoes through the 'H-Seed Bank Project.'

This project is a program that systematically supports the entire process from product development to sales by discovering competitive and excellent products among domestically bred agricultural products developed and improved by nine agricultural technology institutes under the Rural Development Administration. This is the first time a domestic department store has collaborated with the Rural Development Administration to provide specialized support for domestic breeds.

Hyundai Department Store will purchase all quantities produced through contract farming with farms that have early adopted domestically bred agricultural products developed by the Rural Development Administration, and sell them through food halls at 16 stores nationwide, including the Apgujeong Main Store, as well as through the specialized online food mall Hyundai Food Hall to Home. They will also provide consulting on product commercialization such as packaging and marketing to inform customers of the product's excellence.

Starting from the 22nd with Danyeong garlic from Haenam, Jeollanam-do, they plan to sequentially introduce about 20 types of domestically bred agricultural products within the year, including Apple Melon developed by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Technology Institute, corn varieties Hwanggeummatchal and Daehakdan, and sweet potato variety Sodammi.

Hyundai Department Store will also participate in the development and commercialization process of domestic seeds. Hyundai Department Store buyers will participate as distribution expert advisors in the development of domestic seeds by the Rural Development Administration, proposing consumer-preferred taste, size, color, and texture.

A Hyundai Department Store official said, "Unlike foreign breeds, domestic breeds are developed to suit Korea's environment, resulting in high productivity as well as taste and texture preferred by consumers. If domestic introduction is activated through this project, it will help increase farmers' income and, in the long term, contribute to replacing foreign breeds that require royalty payments overseas."