Strawberry Exports from January to May Up 25% Year-on-Year... "Targeting the Premium Market"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Strawberry exports from January to May increased by nearly 25% compared to the same period last year. The government evaluated that it has established itself as a key export item.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the cumulative strawberry export value during this period was $49 million, a 24.7% increase compared to the same period last year.

The ministry identified that despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the good performance in strawberry exports was influenced by implementing 15 action tasks at each stage from production to export and operating dedicated strawberry export flights through agreements with airlines.

This year’s export target is set at $65 million, a 20% increase from last year. In particular, a premiumization strategy through the production of premium strawberries aims to target high-end stores and department stores in major export countries. To this end, superior seedlings were distributed and propagation technology consulting was conducted from the production stage, and demonstration cultivation was completed to reduce the rate of malformed fruits. A standard cultivation technology manual will also be produced and distributed to all exporting farms.

To target the premium market, a pilot strawberry export complex is being established focusing on varieties preferred by export countries, and monthly professional consulting is conducted to produce strawberries that meet quality standards such as size, sugar content, and ripeness. By developing nesting containers and internal container films, as well as packaging container designs, the premium strawberry image is emphasized. Additionally, vibration-free refrigerated trucks are used to maintain freshness, and refrigerated warehouses near airports are leased and utilized.

A ministry official stated, "Strawberries account for less than 3% of domestic production in exports, so there is high potential for export expansion in the future," and emphasized, "We will strive to achieve $100 million in exports with strawberries as a star item."

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