Seoul City to Operate 'Farmer's Market' Direct Trade Market for Urban-Rural Win-Win 40 Times a Year... Supporting Local Farms

Direct Trade of Healthy Food from Over 100 Farms Recommended by 60+ Cities and Counties Nationwide, Urban Markets Opened
40 Events Annually at 3 Locations: DMC, Yeouido Plaza, and Mallidong Plaza to Revitalize Declining Commercial Areas

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The 'Seoul Farmers' Market,' which provides sales channels to over 100 farms in more than 60 cities and counties nationwide, is held 40 times a year at three locations: DMC in Mapo-gu, Yeouido Park, and Malli-dong Square. It is a direct transaction market where consumers can purchase healthy agricultural products, carefully selected and recommended by local governments, at prices up to 30% cheaper than market prices.

According to Seoul City on the 17th, the city plans to revitalize farms struggling with blocked sales channels due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the depressed commercial districts by operating various special exhibitions and cultural events. Since its launch in 2012, the 'Seoul Farmers' Market' has served as a marketplace for communication between local farmers and Seoul citizens, offering not only affordable direct purchases of excellent local agricultural products but also functioning as a cultural market with various enjoyable activities.

This year, in collaboration with the Rural Development Administration and local governments, special exhibitions will be held to introduce and sell new eco-friendly agricultural products such as Hogammi sweet potatoes, hometown glutinous rice, and black and hairy wood ear mushrooms at affordable prices. Hogammi sweet potatoes contain 29 times more beta-carotene than conventional sweet potatoes, hometown glutinous rice has a savory scorched rice aroma, and black and hairy wood ear mushrooms, which have excellent anti-diabetic effects, are pure Korean varieties developed this year with technical support from the Rural Development Administration.

Through collaboration with Good Neighbors, Lovely Farm, held monthly at Yeouido Park, hosts various special exhibitions such as surplus agricultural products and imperfect goods fairs. When consumers purchase agricultural products at Lovely Farm, all proceeds are automatically donated through the GOOD-BUY donation program.

At this 'Farmers' Market,' various events that families can participate in together, such as a paper card game competition made from recycled paper and making your own eco-bag, are held. There are also cultural events like a kind photo (PICTURE) certification event during office workers' lunch breaks and nostalgic old-fashioned paper lottery games.

All farms participating in the 'Farmers' Market' use biodegradable vinyl, and the operation headquarters rents shopping bags made by recycling discarded banners, minimizing the use of vinyl and plastic to operate an eco-friendly market. Additionally, customers who participate in the certification challenge event using shopping bags receive coupons that can be used immediately on-site.

Park Dae-woo, Director of Economic and Job Planning at Seoul City, said, “The Seoul Farmers' Market was established to support sales channels for local farms affected by the consumption downturn due to the impact of COVID-19. We hope many citizens will visit this direct transaction market where healthy food carefully selected and recommended by local governments nationwide can be found in one place, helping to support the farms.”