Gokseong Premium Pears, First Export to the U.S. This Year

Published 11 Aug.2023 15:41(KST)

Consistent Annual Popularity in the United States

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Sang-cheol) announced on the 11th that the export of pears, the largest export item among local agricultural products, to the United States has officially begun.

The pears exported this month from Gokseong are the early-ripening Wonhwang variety, with 77 tons worth approximately 420 million KRW scheduled to be exported to the United States.

[Photo by Gokseong-gun]

Among the member farms of the Gokseong Pear Agricultural Cooperative Corporation (CEO Jeong Bok-gi), about 25 farms produce pears for export, with 100% of their production dedicated to exports.

The cooperative enhances quality competitiveness and maintains a stable distribution system through joint sorting at safe and clean GAP-certified facilities.

Additionally, based on its designation as a pear export specialized complex by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and certification as an excellent export complex, it has consistently received favorable reviews from both domestic and overseas buyers.

Gokseong pears are primarily exported to the United States and have maintained steady popularity every year.

Last year, the cooperative achieved a total export volume of 410 tons, and through efforts to expand into various countries, on the 8th, Australia and Thailand were approved as suitable for export quarantine requirements, leading to their designation as additional export quarantine complexes.

Accordingly, from the second half of this year, plans are in place to widely promote the reputation of Gokseong pears in Australia and Thailand as well.

The county is promoting various export support projects to revitalize the export of agricultural specialty products, including support for export logistics costs, export agricultural product packaging materials, and hosting buyer evaluation meetings.

Furthermore, it actively supports local export companies’ market access conditions by assisting with obtaining necessary overseas certifications by product and export country, developing export packaging designs, and subsidizing the purchase of consumable materials for export.

A Gokseong-gun official stated, “To enhance the competitiveness of Gokseong premium pears, we will continue to establish export foundations and actively strive to pioneer new markets through strategic customized marketing.”