South Korea's Ships Begin Full-Scale Exports to 'Largest Market' United States

On the 14th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a shipment ceremony for early-ripening pear varieties harvested this year at the Cheonan Pear Horticultural Agricultural Cooperative Agricultural Product Distribution Center (APC), and announced on the 15th that exports of Korean pears to the United States, the largest overseas market for Korean pears, will officially begin.

The early-ripening pear varieties, developed in Korea, include Wonhwang, Hwanggeum, and Sinhwa. As of 2022, pear exports to the U.S. amounted to 36 million dollars, with the U.S. market accounting for 48.3% of the total pear export value (74.4 million dollars), making it the largest market.

To expand exports of high-quality fresh pears, the Ministry has been providing farmers with quality control technical guidance and quality improvement projects. Since the 7th, joint quarantine inspections between Korea and the U.S. have been conducted to ensure smooth quarantine clearance. Plans also include special promotions at major U.S. supermarkets such as H-mart and Food Bazaar, use of co-branded trademarks, and attachment of anti-counterfeiting identification marks.

Prior to the shipment ceremony, the Ministry held an on-site meeting for exporters titled "Expanding Fresh Agricultural Product Exports," chaired by Yang Ju-pil, Director of Food Industry Policy, to review the current export status, listen to difficulties, and discuss measures to expand exports. Export industry representatives expressed that they are facing significant burdens due to rising labor and raw material costs and increased exchange rate volatility, and requested continuous government attention and support to expand exports.

Director Yang stated, "To achieve the highest-ever export performance for fresh agricultural products this year, we will continue efforts to resolve exporters’ difficulties by providing additional support for export logistics costs, maintaining agricultural product quality and marketability through air quality control, and promoting the use of CA containers for long-term storage, among various policy measures."

Korean Pear 2023 First Export Commemoration Ceremony (Loading Ceremony)

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