Promoting Intensive Ripening Judgment Consulting
to Boost "Taste Exports"
On the 22nd, Naju City held a ripening judgment consulting session for our varieties targeting farms participating in the market certification quality assurance system on the 2nd floor of Naju APC. Provided by Naju City
On August 22, Naju City in South Jeolla Province held a consulting session on ripening judgment for 30 farms participating in the market certification quality assurance pear program on the 2nd floor of Naju APC.
Previously, from August 11 to 13, on-site consulting sessions were conducted at the farms' orchards with participation from Yoon Seokgyu, an agricultural researcher at the Pear Research Center, and Professor Seo Hojin from Suncheon National University. During these sessions, the growth status of fruit on each farm was checked, and scientific advice was provided to predict the optimal harvest time for early-ripening pear varieties.
The consulting session on ripening judgment for domestic pear varieties aims to enhance the production of premium Naju pears and build consumer trust through scientific verification and expert consultation, while also determining the optimal harvest time for early-ripening pear varieties. The expert consultants included Choi Eutteum, an agricultural researcher at the Pear Research Center; Dr. Min Gwanghyeon from the Naju Pear Agricultural Cooperative; and Choi Jinho, head of the Agricultural Counseling Center.
The participating farms measured the sugar content, fruit weight, size, firmness, and iodine reaction of sample fruits (one each from the top, middle, and bottom of each tree) harvested from their orchards. Based on these results, the ripening judgment panel and the farmers agreed to conduct a second round of consulting on ripening judgment for the Shinhwa variety on August 26 and for the Changjo variety around August 28.
Additionally, on August 19, Naju City held a consulting session on ripening judgment and a post-harvest orchard management training session for 35 farms exporting the Shinhwa pear variety at the Naju Pear Agricultural Cooperative conference room.
During the training, ripening judgment consulting was conducted based on the weight, sugar content, and firmness of the Shinhwa variety, and it was predicted that the harvest would be delayed by about 5 to 7 days compared to the average year.
A Naju City official stated, "Through the 2026 Rural Development Administration's 'Regional Specialized Fresh Agricultural Product Export Complex Creation Project,' we plan to establish a cold chain system from the time of harvest at the production site to shipping and local distribution for early-ripening pears, thereby maintaining quality and creating a sustainable export foundation."
One farmer cultivating Shinhwa pears for export who attended the training said, "The Shinhwa variety is highly preferred overseas due to its high sugar content and has strong price competitiveness. If only premium fruit is produced, it will greatly help expand export markets and increase farm income."
Meanwhile, since taking office in the eighth popularly elected term, Naju Mayor Yoon Byungtae has set the policy direction of "Naju pears competing on taste, Naju pears finding new opportunities through exports," focusing on expanding the quality assurance system and implementing rescue strategies to overcome sluggish domestic consumption and enhance the value of Naju pears in the global market.
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