Naju Agricultural Festa Operates Agricultural Product Sales Booths... Popular Among Tourists

The Naju Agricultural Festa, held in conjunction with Jeonnam Naju City's integrated festival ‘2023 Naju Festival, Yeongsangang River is Alive,’ is drawing crowds of tourists every day, contributing to the festival's success.

According to the city on the 23rd, the Naju Agricultural Festa Zone is showcasing a variety of agricultural and livestock products and processed goods, including Naju pears, rice, grains, and Korean beef. Discount sales booths are being operated in diverse ways so that consumers can taste and purchase high-quality products at reasonable prices.

The 2023 Naju Festival, Yeongsangang River is Alive Naju Agricultural Festa Zone is crowded with tourists.
[Photo by Naju City]

Customers who purchase agricultural and livestock products on the day receive free delivery support and 10% of their purchase amount in agricultural product purchase coupons.

The pear tasting corner, where visitors can enjoy the representative specialty of Naju, the Singo pear, to their heart’s content, and the livestock product tasting booth operated by the Naju City Livestock Association are bustling with tourists lining up every day.

From the 20th to the 22nd, smoked and bulgogi duck were featured, followed by honey from beekeeping from the 23rd to the 25th, whole chicken from poultry on the 26th, dairy products (milk and yogurt) on the 27th, baked eggs from laying hens on the 28th, and pork (pork cutlet and bulgogi) on the 29th. All are available for free tasting and can be purchased at prices lower than market rates.

In addition, the agricultural culture experience zone, which includes booths for returning farmers and rural migrants, young farmers’ promotional hall, Naju Urban Agriculture Research Association’s recycling seedling planting, and rural experience and recreation villages, attracts between 1,000 and over 2,000 participants daily for various experiences, contributing to promoting the excellence of Naju agriculture.

The ‘Yeongsangang Cafeteria’ food booths, featuring 11 local dining establishments, are experiencing huge success, with it being difficult to find empty seats during meal times.

Festival foods such as aged fermented skate from Yeongsanpo, pork boiled meat, fermented skate with aged kimchi (Hong-eo Samhap), charcoal-grilled bulgogi, octopus dishes, seafood pancakes, loach soup, noodles, as well as children’s favorites like gimbap, steak, and pork cutlet are all popular.

All establishments are creating a new festival food culture that protects health and the environment by thoroughly managing hygiene, eradicating overcharging, and providing restaurant tableware instead of disposable plates, paper cups, and spoons to customers.

Visitors who bring the festival promotional leaflet distributed at the food and beverage booths inside the cafeteria and present it at Yeongsanpo fermented skate street vendors and restaurants will receive a 10% discount at vendors and a 5% discount at restaurants.

Sales of Naju agricultural and livestock processed products and cafeteria food booths at the festival site have surpassed 130 million KRW in net sales over the first three days since the opening on the 20th.

Local agricultural product processing companies such as Sigol Farm (Naju pear Sikhye), Cheongsol Ranch (cheese, yogurt), and Dadocham Juga (labong) are also popular, and the ‘2023 Naju Festival Limited Edition Commemorative Beer’ made with Naju rice sold out 1,000 units within two days of the opening.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “Disposable products have been the main cause of environmental pollution, but they have been used for convenience until now. However, at this festival’s food booths, restaurant tableware is being used, which has received a positive response from tourists. We will do our best to support the income of local farmers, livestock producers, and businesses producing safe food and the highest quality Naju agricultural, livestock, and specialty products during the festival period.”

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr