'Cherry' Clusters on 1.9 Million Pyeong in Gyeongju Area... Major Production Site Begins Full-Scale Shipment

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] In Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, the largest national production area of cherries, also known domestically as 'beotjji,' mid-late maturing varieties are being introduced to the market following early maturing varieties.

According to Gyeongju City on the 2nd, starting with early maturing varieties Jodaegwa and Donisense in late last month, mid-late maturing varieties such as Jwadeunggeum and Napoleon are being shipped until late June. Unlike other fruits, cherries have a short harvest period, typically lasting about a month.

With over 100 years of cherry cultivation history, the Gyeongju area has production farms covering 63 hectares (630,000㎡, 190,000 pyeong), and it is expected to harvest approximately 240 tons this year. Gyeongju cherries are eco-friendly fruits that have not been sprayed with pesticides after pollination. According to Gyeongju City, they are characterized by thicker flesh and a sweet yet tangy flavor, stronger than imported cherries which tend to be sweeter.

Cherries, the only domestically produced fruit priced lower than imported ones, have recently gained great popularity among the younger generation who prefer 'small color foods.'

Choi Jeong-hwa, Director of the Gyeongju Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "We are focusing on expanding new varieties and developing processed products to strengthen the regional competitiveness of cherries," adding, "We will also do our best to expand the consumer base to provide new vitality to the local farming economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.