Gangjin-gun Fires Successful Signal Shot for 'Nation's First Online Direct Trade of Fresh Flower Complex'

COVID-19 Crisis Turns into a Big Hit... Over 850,000 Flowers Sold, Generating More Than 1.6 Billion Won in Sales

Pioneering Distribution Market through Online Direct Transactions, Stabilizing Auction Prices

Selection, packaging, and delivery work for direct transactions are underway at a flower farm in Gangjin-gun. (Photo by Gangjin-gun)

[Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] Gangjin-gun’s timely idea, which seized the opportunity amid the COVID-19 crisis, is playing a key role in increasing farmers' income by establishing and operating a new sales market called the ‘nation’s first online direct transaction for fresh flower complexes.’

According to Gangjin-gun on the 28th, Gangjin, known as the number one flower industry area, faced a crisis as flower consumption decreased and prices fell due to the reduction and cancellation of various events between January and February?the period when flower prices are highest and demand is greatest?caused by COVID-19 continuing since last year.

To overcome the management difficulties of flower farmers, the administration and farmers jointly implemented the nation’s first ‘online direct sales of flowers (fresh flowers),’ successfully establishing it with a complete sell-out streak continuing this year following last year, achieving clear results.

On February 24, when the ‘Cheongjagol Rose Online Direct Sales,’ which accounts for 69% of Jeonnam’s cultivation area, began, the prepared quantity of 35,000 stems was sold out in half a day.

In the subsequent second sale, a limited quantity of 5,000 stems per day was sold, achieving a total of 11 complete sell-outs, signaling a successful start for fresh flower online sales.

From March, Gangjin hydrangeas, which account for 30% nationwide and 84% in Jeonnam over an area of 5.6 hectares, and Gangjin flower peonies, which account for 80% of the national shipment volume, were consecutively promoted for online direct sales, generating total sales of 449,263 stems and about 840 million won as of the 21st.

Including last year’s sales, the total reaches approximately 850,000 stems and over 1.6 billion won.

Thanks to these achievements, hydrangea farmers in the county have increased their income by more than 50% compared to before COVID-19, and open-field flower peony farmers have doubled their income compared to previous years, contributing to the stabilization of flower farmers’ management.

Furthermore, as direct sales have become active, the shipment prices at flower wholesale markets nationwide have risen, benefiting flower farmers in other regions as well.

This is evaluated to be due to the establishment of a virtuous cycle benefiting both consumers and producers by significantly reducing distribution costs through the activation of distribution-centered direct sales, a core pledge of Gangjin-gun’s 7th local government administration to foster added value for farmers.

The county plans to strengthen direct transaction customer management and actively promote agricultural specialty products other than flowers according to shipment periods.

County Governor Lee Seung-ok said, “While agricultural production is important, the importance of sales is growing, so we will strengthen the distribution system to enable income generation through the activation of direct transactions.”

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