Five Producer Organizations from Jeonnam Selected in Seoul School Meal Contest
Supplying Rice and Vegetables for Three Years
Establishing a Stable Supply Base
Jeonnam Province announced on November 6 that five producer organizations from the Jeonnam region have been selected in the "Seoul School (Hearty) Meals Eco-Friendly Agricultural Products and Grains Producer Organization Selection Contest" conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation).
To expand the supply chain of eco-friendly agricultural products, the Seoul Metropolitan Government significantly improved its operating methods by moving away from the "one supplier per province" system, selecting five producer organizations nationwide, and allowing the formation of consortia among metropolitan governments.
Following document screening and on-site and management evaluations in October, five organizations from Jeonnam were selected. In the eco-friendly agricultural products category, Naju Agricultural Cooperative Joint Business Corporation and Nature and Farmers Co., Ltd. were chosen. In the eco-friendly grains category, Damyang County Agricultural Cooperative Rice Association Joint Business Corporation, Haenam Insu Farming Association Corporation, and Yeonggwang County Agricultural Cooperative Rice Association Joint Business Corporation were selected.
The selected organizations from Jeonnam will supply key ingredients such as eco-friendly rice and vegetables to elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul through the Seoul Eco-Friendly Distribution Center from 2026 to 2028, providing eco-friendly food from Jeonnam to approximately 800,000 students in the Seoul area. This is significant as it establishes a stable supply base for Jeonnam’s eco-friendly agricultural products in the Seoul school meal market, which is the largest consumer of these products.
Jeonnam Province plans to use this achievement as an opportunity to expand its supply chain not only to school meals but also to public meal services and welfare facilities, while further strengthening quality control and safety inspection systems throughout the entire production, distribution, and consumption process.
Park Sangmi, Director of Agricultural and Food Distribution at Jeonnam Province, stated, "The selection of these suppliers is a result of recognizing the excellence and thorough quality control of Jeonnam’s eco-friendly agricultural products," adding, "We will actively support Jeonnam’s eco-friendly ingredients, which are responsible for providing healthy meals for children, to become the standard for eco-friendly meals in Korea."
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