Goheung-gun, Actual Condition Survey of Yuzu Origin

Significant Decline in Chinese Exports... Price Collusion Prohibited
Major Cafe Chains and Distributors Strive to Diversify Sales Channels and Develop Markets

[Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo] Jeonnam Goheung-gun (Governor Gong Young-min) has taken measures to protect its specialty product, yuzu. Due to a 20% decrease in production caused by drought during the harvest season and a decline in exports to China amid the economic downturn, some companies are trading at prices lower than last year, prompting an actual condition survey.

According to Goheung-gun on the 2nd, about 50% of domestic yuzu tea production relies on overseas exports, but imports from China, our largest market, have decreased by half. Processing companies are also facing double difficulties due to increased inventory from the previous year and rising raw material costs.

Gong Young-min, Governor of Goheung-gun, said that as improvement measures, they are actively targeting the domestic B2B market such as large cafe chains and food ingredient markets, as well as diversifying exports to overseas markets including Europe, the United States, and Indonesia.

Goheung yuzu, which boasts the nation's top production volume with 7,000 tons annually from about 2,000 farms in the region, is highly regarded as a premium yuzu due to its mild climate, sweetness, color, and rich aroma. Currently, harvesting, purchasing, and processing are in full progress.

Goheung-gun is requesting cooperation to purchase at last year's price level through meetings with processing companies and is making every effort to crack down on origin labeling by conducting actual condition surveys to prevent collusion and to ensure that yuzu from other regions is not disguised as Goheung yuzu and processed into yuzu tea.

A county official said, “To increase farmers' income and develop sales channels for Goheung agricultural specialties, an agricultural product export development team led by the governor visited Europe, including the Czech Republic and Italy, in September and signed export agreements worth 5.3 million dollars. In October and November, 20 tons of contracted yuzu and ginger were shipped in two rounds, and a third shipment is planned this month.”

Goheung=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shim Jeong-woo hss79@asiae.co.kr