The World Is Enchanted by Strawberry Aroma... Gyeongbuk Strawberry Exports Increase by 179.5% Compared to Last Year

Altaking, Establishing Itself as a Premium Item

Strawberries of the Alta King variety produced in Gyeongsangbuk-do have gained popularity overseas, with exports last year increasing about threefold compared to the previous year.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Last year, strawberry exports from Gyeongsangbuk-do recorded $920,000, about three times more than the previous year.

Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 17th that along with the popularity of Korean strawberries, which are recognized as premium ingredients overseas, they confirmed the popularity and export growth potential of Gyeongbuk strawberries in Greater China and New Southern countries.

Gyeongbuk was practically a barren land for strawberry exports at around $220,000 in 2017, but two years after the first export of the Alta King variety produced by the Gamro Strawberry Agricultural Cooperative Corporation in Gimcheon City in 2020, export value increased by 317.5% compared to 2017 and 179.5% compared to 2020.

Alta King boasts a unique texture and aroma, with large fruit that maintains high sugar content and excellent storability even when harvested at about 50% fruit coloration.

It has gained favorable responses from overseas consumers in Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, and has established itself as a new promising export item for Gyeongbuk.

In May last year, Sae Gimcheon Nonghyup, which includes the Gamro Strawberry Agricultural Cooperative Corporation, was selected as a specialized export complex for Alta King strawberries as part of a pilot project for K-Berry, the domestic integrated strawberry export organization, to enter the overseas premium market.

With the project selection, the Alta King variety was priced as a premium, and the export complex received differentiated support from production to harvesting, packaging, logistics, and market development.

Gyeongbuk Province plans to promote various support policies such as production facilities, export logistics costs, and overseas marketing to expand premium strawberry exports.

This year, they will support the establishment of a base strawberry specialized seedling nursery to build a superior seedling distribution system for export varieties such as Alta King, and further strengthen marketing centered on Asian markets including Thailand and Singapore.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo said, “Discovering a new premium export item despite the adverse conditions of COVID-19 is the result of continuous efforts at the production site,” and added, “We will spare no support to help Gyeongbuk’s Alta King grow into Korea’s representative second Shine Muscat.”

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