Nonghyup Strengthens Local Food Direct Stores... Upholding Social Value

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] NongHyup is actively promoting the revitalization of local food direct stores to spread the value of local food, which includes stabilizing the income of small and medium farmers, supplying fresh food, and contributing to the local community. Local food direct stores refer to agricultural product sales venues where farmers directly determine prices, arrange displays, and manage inventory for agricultural products produced and harvested locally without long-distance transportation or multi-stage distribution processes.

NongHyup's local food direct stores have expanded to 390 locations as of last year, starting with the first store at Yongjin NongHyup in Wanju, Jeonbuk in 2012. This provides stable sales channels for approximately 35,000 small and medium farmers.

Additionally, by fostering relationships between producers and consumers within the region, these stores have played a leading role in realizing sustainable community values, creating jobs, revitalizing the local economy, and contributing to the local community, thereby spreading the value of local food.

This year, NongHyup plans to further strengthen the internal management of direct stores that are "farmer-centered and resonate with consumers," alongside their external growth, to more faithfully fulfill the role of spreading the value of local food.

To enhance the internal management of local food direct stores, NongHyup will implement ▲strengthened on-site consulting and monitoring ▲expanded consumer promotion and participation programs ▲operation of farmer-centered local food shipping associations ▲and strengthened cooperation with social economy organizations within the region.

To operate direct stores based on local food principles, NongHyup will utilize consulting teams to reinforce close on-site guidance and support, expand consumer participation programs for spreading the value of local food, and activate exchanges with local residents, enabling NongHyup local food direct stores to take a step further as direct stores for farmers and consumers.

Furthermore, by fostering local food shipping associations and operating direct stores centered on local small and medium farmers, NongHyup will provide safer and higher-quality "food with a face," and continue to promote the development of local food shipping farmers and community contribution through cooperation with young farmers and village communities.

Jang Cheolhun, CEO of NongHyup Economic Holdings, stated, "NongHyup has provided consumers with fresh locally produced agricultural products at reasonable prices and offered farmers stable sales channels through local food direct stores." He added, "We will continue to do our best to strengthen internal management and create NongHyup local food direct stores that lead a value-oriented consumption culture."

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