Pear, Dried Persimmon, Shine Muscat, and Premium Peach Join the Lineup
Shine Muscat grapes, pears, and dried persimmons from Sangju City, Gyeongbuk, have gained popularity in 30 countries overseas, achieving export sales of 87 billion won in 2021.
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Sangju City, Gyeongbuk Province, achieved export performance of 87 billion KRW last year, an 18% increase compared to the previous year, with agricultural and food exports expanding to 30 countries.
The export value of fresh agricultural products from Sangju was about 34 billion KRW, accounting for approximately 36% of Gyeongsangbuk-do's fresh agricultural product export volume.
Sangju City evaluated this result as being achieved through diversification of export markets and various attempts tailored to overseas consumer trends, despite many difficulties such as long-term COVID-19 impacts and worsening trade environments.
The Sangju Shine Muscat, which has established itself as a star item, is popular not only domestically but also in China and Southeast Asia.
The city stated that as the number of Shine Muscat cultivation farms increases and production volume is expected to surge, efforts have been made to discover overseas consumers, resulting in exports worth 20.6 billion KRW, accounting for about half of the total domestic grape exports.
Sangju pears, a steady export hero product, were exported to 13 countries last year despite the highest-ever increase in export logistics costs and complicated customs procedures, earning over 10 billion KRW in revenue.
Sangju dried persimmons, a representative agricultural product, are steadily exported to the United States, where many Korean expatriates reside, and have expanded sales channels to the UK, the Netherlands, and other countries.
The city is systematically managing from persimmon production to export stages and is fostering a specialized dried persimmon export complex through farmer education by export organizations that have obtained GAP certification to achieve high-quality dried persimmons.
Currently, 17 overseas mini promotional centers have been installed in 9 cities across 7 countries to exhibit and sell agricultural specialties such as dried persimmons year-round, and the excellence of regional agricultural products is being promoted through KBS World overseas broadcasts.
Although Sangju peaches did not reach half of the usual export performance last year due to domestic price increases, a farming cooperative preparing a specialized export complex introduced premium peaches to overseas markets for the first time.
The city plans to export premium peaches produced by the farming cooperative, led mainly by young people, overseas this year.
Processed agricultural products such as children's red ginseng, Cheonma juice, and frozen dumplings, which started overseas expansion last year, received favorable responses from Vietnamese consumers through overseas online promotional events and local sales promotions.
The city set the export target for 2022 at 100 billion KRW and plans to continuously monitor consumer reactions at major overseas retail stores to build trust with existing export buyers and promptly improve any issues.
To expand export channels, promotional and sales events will be held in various countries overseas, and events inviting overseas consumers will also be promoted.
Mayor Kang Young-seok said, “Despite difficult conditions such as the global pandemic and logistics crises, I express my gratitude to the farmers and export officials who worked hard on exports,” and added, “We will take the lead in branding agricultural specialties as premium products, finding export opportunities, and establishing them as healthy foods loved worldwide.”
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