"Control 설 Food Prices"... Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Meets Fruit Associations and Foodservice Industry to Urge "Restraint on Price Increases"

Meeting with Fruit Producers' Associations to Stabilize Essential Goods Supply
Visited Franchise Industry Association to Hear On-site Difficulties

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, responsible for the prices of staple foods for the public, urged fruit producer groups and the franchise industry to refrain from raising prices ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

First, Han Hoon, Deputy Minister and Price Stabilization Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held a "Meeting with Fruit Producer Groups for Stable Supply of Lunar New Year Seasonal Products" on the 10th at the Nonghyup Anseong Agricultural Food Logistics Center.

This meeting was organized to thoroughly prepare for the stable supply of seasonal products by reviewing the roles of producer groups, Nonghyup, and related organizations, with just over a month left before the Lunar New Year holiday. It also aimed to listen to the difficulties faced by the agricultural sector, which has been severely affected by consecutive disasters last year, and to gather on-site opinions.

The Ministry plans to significantly expand the contract cultivation volume of apples and pears during the Lunar New Year period compared to usual times and strengthen discount support for seasonal products to ease the burden on consumers. Major fruit producer groups such as those for apples and pears have expressed their commitment to do their best to stabilize supply by thoroughly managing production areas, including monitoring shipments at Agricultural Product Distribution Centers (APCs), ensuring timely supply of volumes, and commercializing irregular, small-sized, and processing-use fruits that are not usually shipped to provide them to consumers at lower prices.

Deputy Minister Han said, "Although the conditions are difficult, the government will do its best to prepare measures to stabilize the supply of Lunar New Year seasonal products so that the public can happily celebrate the nation's biggest holiday, Seol. Since people’s livelihoods are tough, I hope producer groups and the distribution industry will also support government policies."

According to the Citrus Shipping Association, the wholesale price of Jeju open-field tangerines has surged by about 50% compared to January last year, averaging 14,000 won per 5kg this month. On the 10th, a customer visiting the Hanaro Mart Yangjae branch in Seocho-gu, Seoul, is purchasing apples. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Measures to Ease Management Burden on Franchise Industry to Be Established

On the same day, Yang Ju-pil, Food Industry Policy Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, visited the Korea Franchise Industry Association to discuss current issues such as price trends and listen to on-site difficulties.

At this meeting, Officer Yang stated that, given the many hardships faced by the dining-out industry, close cooperation with associations and groups will be promoted to ensure the smooth progress of the pilot project for the Employment Permit System for Foreign Workers (E-9). He also explained plans to support overseas expansion of dining-out companies by participating in the International Franchise Expo, holding information-sharing workshops for excellent overseas expansion companies (in June), and hosting consultation meetings inviting overseas buyers (in November).

Officer Yang said, "This year as well, we will strengthen regular communication with dining-out associations and groups and make every effort to prepare effective measures to ease the management burden on the industry. Since the government is making every effort to support the industry, I ask the association to carefully review price stabilization and competitiveness enhancement plans together with dining-out companies."