The Secret to How Low-Income Residents in Songpa-gu Can Eat 'Geum Sagwa' Apple?

Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, Seoul Cheonggwa, Jungang Cheonggwa, Donghwa Cheonggwa → Donated 1,000 boxes of apples worth 24.5 million KRW on the 16th through Hope Sharing Market Association... Delivered to low-income households by the district office

As apple prices soar to record "golden" levels, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it held a donation ceremony to receive 1,000 boxes of apples from the Garak Market public interest corporation, Hope Sharing Market, and has been distributing them to low-income families in the area since the 16th.

At the ceremony held at the district office, many officials gathered to commemorate the support, including Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, Moon Young-pyo, President of Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation, representatives from Seoul Cheonggwa, Jungang Cheonggwa, Donghwa Cheonggwa, and the Secretary General of Hope Sharing Market, reaffirming their commitment to spreading warm sharing in the local community with one heart and one mind.

The apples donated to the district on that day amounted to 1,000 boxes weighing 2.5kg each, valued at a total of 24.5 million KRW. This support is especially valuable as it comes amid a sharp decline in apple shipments last year due to pests, abnormal weather, and aging farmers, causing apple prices to soar.

A district official stated, "The Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation and the Garak Market fruit wholesale market corporations donated through Hope Sharing Market," adding, "The district also sympathizes with the purpose of helping low-income households in the area who cannot afford expensive fruits and supporting fruit farmers, and has lent its support."

The donor, Hope Sharing Market, is a public interest corporation established by Garak Market distributors for community contribution activities. It practices urban-rural coexistence by purchasing agricultural products and supporting vulnerable groups, connecting local farmers, Garak Market, and the community. Last year, it consistently practiced sharing in the community by donating 300 boxes of ceremonial goods during Lunar New Year and Chuseok and 10,000 boxes of kimchi for kimjang.

Based on this background, the donated apples were evenly distributed by the district considering the proportion of basic livelihood security recipients in each of the 27 neighborhoods, and were delivered to families in need through the neighborhood community centers, sharing warm neighborly love.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "Despite the difficult economic situation, I thank the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation and Garak Market officials for their warm concern for those in need," and added, "We will do our best at the district level to ensure that this 'Love’s Golden Apple' is evenly delivered to neighbors in difficulty and that continuous support can be sustained in the future."