Sancheong Gotgam 'Gojongsi' Selected as Korea's Representative Fruit for 6 Consecutive Years

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Korea Forest Service Receive Top Award in Forest Fruit Sector Evaluation

Donut-shaped Sancheong Gotgam Photo by Sancheong-gun

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] 'Sancheong Gojongsi (astringent persimmon)', the raw material persimmon for Sancheong Gotgam from Jirisan, has been selected as Korea's representative fruit for six consecutive years and won the highest award in the forest fruit sector.

Sancheong-gun announced on the 6th that Gojongsi submitted by Kang Soon-do (64, Danseong-myeon) won the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Award (Grand Prize) at the '2021 Korea Representative Fruit Selection Contest' held at Yangjae AT Center.

Also, chestnuts (Daebo) submitted by Kim Kwang-hee (69, Danseong-myeon) won the Encouragement Award, the Director of the National Institute of Forest Science Award. Sancheong chestnuts have been selected as representative fruits for three consecutive years, winning the Grand Prize in 2019 and the Encouragement Award in 2020.

Sancheong Gojongsi and Sancheong chestnuts have proven that Sancheong forest products are of the highest quality nationwide, being selected as representative fruits in government evaluations for several years.

Despite adverse weather conditions nationwide this year, such as large temperature differences during the flowering period and frequent rain in May and June, which reduced the production of raw persimmons, Sancheong-gun experienced an unprecedented bumper harvest thanks to accumulated cultivation techniques.

According to 'Heuktoram', the soil and agricultural environment information portal provided by the Rural Development Administration, Sancheong-gun consists of 98.2% sandy loam, loam, and silty loam. This means it has the optimal natural environment as a cultivation area for Gojongsi.

A Sancheong-gun official said, "Thanks to Gojongsi, the best raw persimmon for Korea's top Gotgam, and recently Jirisan's clear and cold weather and low humidity, the quality of this year's Gotgam is expected to be the best." He added, "Sancheong Gotgam is about to begin full-scale shipment, starting with the first sale on the 14th."