Only 100% Standard-Packaged Products Auctioned for Hygienic Distribution
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] ‘Jirisan Sancheong Gotgam,’ made from ‘Sancheong Gojongsi’ in Gyeongnam, selected as Korea’s representative fruit, has started its first shipment this year.
Sancheong County, Sancheong County Nonghyup, and the Jirisan Sancheong Gotgam Producers Association held the ‘Jirisan Sancheong Gotgam’ first sale ceremony at the Sancheong Gotgam Distribution Center in Cheonpyeong-ri, Sicheon-myeon, on the 15th.
The first sale ceremony was attended by about 80 people, including Lee Jae-geun, Sancheong County Governor, Shim Jae-hwa, Chairman of the County Council, members of the Sancheong County Council, Park Woo-beom, Gyeongnam Provincial Assembly member, as well as Nonghyup, the Producers Association, and brokers, praying for a bountiful harvest of Sancheong Gotgam.
Sancheong Gotgam will hold auctions every Tuesday and Friday from the first auction on this day until January 28 next year.
Only products that are 100% standardized packaged (Gotgam, dried persimmon slices) are allowed to enter the Sancheong Gotgam auction. This is a measure to ensure hygienic distribution by blocking COVID-19 and fine dust.
According to the county, the production status of raw persimmons (Sancheong Gojongsi) for Sancheong Gotgam this year is an unprecedented bumper crop. The production volume of Sancheong Gotgam is also expected to increase by about 35% compared to last year.
This contrasts with the nationwide decrease in raw persimmon production caused by large temperature differences during the flowering period and frequent rain in May and June this year.
Sancheong County attributes this to the natural environment blessed by Jirisan Mountain and Gyeonghogang River and accumulated cultivation technology.
The raw persimmon for ‘Sancheong Gotgam,’ ‘Sancheong Gojongsi,’ was selected as the ‘Best’ in the forestry fruit category for six consecutive years at the 2021 Korea Representative Fruit Selection Contest hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and organized by the Korea Forestry and Fruit Cooperative Federation.
Along with the bumper crop of raw persimmons, the clear and cold weather and low humidity of Jirisan recently are expected to make this year’s Sancheong Gotgam quality better than ever.
A county official said, “We are doing our best to produce high-quality Gotgam to maintain the reputation of ‘Sancheong Gotgam,’ Korea’s representative dried persimmon,” and added, “We hope you enjoy Sancheong Gotgam, boasting the best taste in Korea, at the 15th Jirisan Sancheong Gotgam Festival.”
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