Luxury Imsil Chili GAP Certification Secures Taste and Quality Stability

826 Farms with 2,273,799㎡ Cultivation Area

Photo by Imsil-gun Provided

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Imsil County in Jeonbuk has completed GAP certification for the cultivation area of farmers contracted to supply red peppers to the Imsil Pepper Processing Center, in collaboration with the Cooperative Joint Business Corporation (CEO Eom Gwiseop, hereafter referred to as the Cooperative Corporation).

According to the county on the 22nd, GAP certification was completed for an area of 2,273,799㎡ across 826 farms. As a result, Imsil peppers (brand name Imsil Hongsil), which have been recognized by consumers as a representative specialty of Imsil County due to their excellent taste and quality, are now expected to gain nationwide sales momentum by also ensuring safety.

GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) is a system implemented since 2006 to systematically manage and certify the safety of superior agricultural products.

This international standard system establishes a safety management framework for agricultural products from production to sales stages to supply safe agricultural products to consumers. Its goal is to enhance domestic consumer trust and strengthen the competitiveness of Korean agricultural products in the international market.

GAP certification undergoes a strict document and on-site inspection process by accredited certification bodies. Even after acquisition, thorough post-management is conducted at least once a year, including compliance with safe pesticide use standards, appropriateness of certified product shipment and labeling, prevention of mixing uncertified agricultural products, and residue testing for harmful substances such as heavy metals and pesticides in agricultural products.

The county has continuously strived to overcome difficulties caused by the ongoing market encroachment of imported peppers.

First, prioritizing securing sales channels for Imsil peppers and establishing a foundation for safe food ingredient production, the county assigned dedicated personnel for GAP support to the Cooperative Corporation and set up a system to support inspection and audit fees to promote GAP certification intensively.

Despite the challenging conditions due to COVID-19, customized education and on-site consulting were provided to participating farmers, resulting in the significant achievement of all participating farms obtaining certification.

Shim Min, the governor of Imsil County, said, “This year, the longest rainy season caused difficulties for pepper cultivation and farmers,” adding, “Through this GAP certification, we expect sales to become more active as Imsil peppers are recognized not only for their taste and quality but also as safe food.”

He continued, “We will continue to expand GAP certification and make every effort to ensure that all processes from cultivation to processing of agricultural products produced in Imsil meet the standards for safe and delicious food production.”

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