Coupang to Purchase Over 100 Tons of Apples Unsold During Chuseok

Seasonal Apple Consumption Promotion with 'Apple Farm Support Event' Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] Coupang is purchasing over 100 tons of apples that missed the 'golden time' for sales. On the 19th, Coupang announced that it will hold an 'Apple Farm Support Event' to revitalize the consumption of seasonal apples, whose sales period was shorter due to an earlier Chuseok than usual.

The event, which runs until the 26th, was planned to support local apple farms that struggled with smooth sales due to the early Chuseok and the weakened consumer sentiment after the holiday. The Hongro apples featured in the event are fresh apple varieties that, unlike Fuji apples, have a short shelf life and are mainly consumed for holiday ancestral rites and gifts.

In this event, apples from farms in the Uiseong, Chungju, Cheongsong, Andong, and Yeongju areas, as well as various agricultural products such as Campbell grapes, Kyoho grapes, Shine Muscat grapes, and new rice, will be offered with various discount benefits. So-called 'imperfect apples,' which have external blemishes such as scratches but have the same sweetness and quality as regular apples, will also be sold at reasonable prices.

This year’s Chuseok was about 10 days earlier than last year, so the period available for sales after harvest was also shorter. According to Lee Sang-bok, director of the Chungbuk Horticultural Cooperative, during the usual Chuseok period, about 1,000 to 1,500 tons of Hongro apples are sold over approximately 20 days from mid-September, but this year the sales period was about half that length, making it difficult to sell the volume. Because of the short shelf life, missing the sales period can result in losses of hundreds of millions of won.

A Coupang official said, "Since the period for our agricultural products, which were carefully grown and harvested over a long time, to meet consumers was shortened due to the early Chuseok, we hope to extend the connection between local farms and customers through this event."

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