'Fresh and Safe'... Rapid Increase in Sales of G-Mark Certified Agricultural and Marine Products in Gyeonggi-do

Gyeonggi-do Gmarket Agricultural and Marine Products Promotion Poster

As consumer demand for fresh and safe agricultural and marine products steadily increases, sales of G-Mark, Gyeonggi Province's excellent food certification, are also rising.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 14th that G-Mark sales reached 444.9 billion KRW in the first half of this year.

Gyeonggi Province's G-Mark sales have been increasing annually, recording 843.4 billion KRW in 2020, 900 billion KRW in 2021, and 946.5 billion KRW in 2022.

As of the first half of this year, there are 344 G-Mark businesses in 26 cities and counties within the province, with 1,688 product items, a 7% increase compared to 1,581 items in the first half of last year.

By product category, livestock products account for the largest share at 191.6 billion KRW, representing 43.1%. This is followed by ▲grains at 98.5 billion KRW (22.1%) ▲kimchi varieties at 46.4 billion KRW (10.4%) ▲fruits at 21.1 billion KRW (4.7%) ▲mushrooms at 20.9 billion KRW (4.7%) ▲vegetables at 15.2 billion KRW (3.4%), among others.

By distribution channel, school meals account for the largest share at 32.1%, followed by agricultural cooperatives at 16.5%, others (online sales, military supply, franchises) at 13.8%, wholesale markets at 13.2%, large supermarkets at 12.4%, department stores at 1.8%, and exports at 0.4%.

School meals were severely impacted by COVID-19 but are now recovering. In the first half of this year, school meal sales reached 142.7 billion KRW, a 9% increase compared to 130.9 billion KRW in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Additionally, as parents expect the use of fresh and safe high-quality ingredients, sales of certified products such as G-Mark have been increasing across the school meal industry, which is also considered to have influenced this trend.

Gyeonggi Province is revising related regulations such as the ‘Gyeonggi Province Excellent Food Certification Management Ordinance and Enforcement Rules.’

The amendment aims to strengthen G-Mark agricultural and marine product certification and post-management by confirming certified agricultural product finished goods, establishing hearings, suspending certification validity, and specifying compliance requirements for certification agency heads.

Regarding the suspension of certification validity, it allows for prompt action against G-Mark businesses involved with illegal or socially controversial agricultural and marine products to ensure safe food.

To alleviate residents' concerns over the Fukushima contaminated water discharge and provide safe food, Gyeonggi Province conducts radiation inspections on G-Mark certified seafood companies quarterly instead of once a year.

Park Jong-min, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Agriculture, Fisheries, and Life Sciences Bureau, stated, "G-Mark certified agricultural and marine products are provided to residents under the governor's name, ensuring fresh and safe agricultural products," and promised, "We will continue to provide high-quality and safe food that meets the high standards of Gyeonggi residents' food demands."

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