Cumulative Exports of Fresh Produce Like Strawberries and Pears Reach $470 Million... 'All-Time High' Near Previous Year's Level

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Holds 'Communication Meeting' with Export Officials

Fresh food exports, which had been declining due to an unusual cold wave at the beginning of the year, are approaching last year's record high cumulative export value as key items such as ginseng, strawberries, and pears recover.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 30th, although fresh agricultural product exports decreased by 11.4% in January this year, the cumulative export value of fresh agricultural products as of the 22nd reached $470 million (a 0.3% decrease compared to the same period last year), similar to last year's record high export level.

Compared to the same period last year, ginseng recorded $72 million (4.3%), strawberries $48 million (24.3%), and pears $17 million (44.6%), driving the export growth trend. Although paprika exports fell by up to 36.7% due to a sharp decline in production in January, the decrease rate has recently recovered to around 17.3% as production gradually stabilizes.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated, "With the efforts of fresh agricultural products, the overall export situation of agricultural and food products is gradually improving, and export growth is expected after the second quarter." He added, "To continue this positive export momentum, the ministry held a meeting on the 28th to review the current export status of major fresh agricultural products this year and to listen to field difficulties in order to explore ways to expand exports."

At the meeting, six integrated export organizations, including those for strawberries and grapes, shared export trends by item and plans to expand exports. Shin Hyung-min, CEO of Copa, the integrated export organization for paprika, said, "To achieve the 2023 export target of $87 million, we will prioritize increasing paprika production and pioneering new markets outside Japan." He also requested, "For this, strengthened government support for production costs and marketing is necessary."

Seo Hyun-woo, CEO of K-Berry, the integrated export organization for strawberries, said, "Thanks to government support for nurturing export integrated organizations, joint forwarding support, and the development and distribution of new varieties, we aim to achieve strawberry exports exceeding $73 million by the end of the year."

In response, Kwon Jae-han, Director of Agricultural Innovation Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "The government will do its best to provide various policy supports necessary for export activation and to create an environment where exporters can focus on exports."

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