Bonghwa County Shares Achievements in Processed Agricultural Specialty Product Development

New Products Combining Mushrooms and Apples
Full-Scale Commercialization to Boost Farmers' Income and Local Industry

Bonghwa County in North Gyeongsang Province successfully held the final report meeting for the "Development of Processed Agricultural Specialty Products" project on September 3 at the Bonghwa County Agricultural Product Processing Technology Support Center, aiming to enhance the added value of local agricultural products.

Hyunguk Park, Bonghwa County Governor (third from the left in the front row), is holding a commemorative photo with officials at the Bonghwa County Agricultural Specialty Product Processing Development Achievement Sharing Meeting.

The meeting was organized to share the achievements in processing local agricultural specialty products and to discuss directions for commercialization. Over 20 participants attended, including County Governor Hyunguk Park, the chairman of the county council, provincial and county council members, and other officials.

◆ New Products Combining Mushrooms and Apples for Health and Convenience

The Gyeongbuk Institute for Bioindustry, which carried out the project, announced the development of three prototype products using Bonghwa County's representative agricultural products, mushrooms and apples: a healthy spread made from oyster and shiitake mushrooms with apples; a nutritious meal replacement powder containing seven grains, brown rice, cordyceps militaris, and apples; and a functional beverage made from sanghwang mushrooms and apples.

Participants tasted and sampled the products, directly assessing their flavor and quality while exchanging opinions on marketability, consumer preferences, and product differentiation strategies. In particular, on-site evaluations were positive, especially regarding the products' combination of health benefits and convenience.

◆ Full-Scale Commercialization Preparation ... Anticipated Increase in Farmers' Income

Bonghwa County plans to swiftly proceed with follow-up steps such as establishing mass production processes, analyzing nutritional content, product manufacturing reports, and obtaining HACCP certification to begin full-scale commercialization. Through these efforts, the county aims to create new added value for agricultural products, strengthen the local processing industry base, increase farmers' income, and revitalize the regional economy.

County Governor Hyunguk Park stated, "Through this report meeting, we have once again confirmed the excellence and industrial potential of Bonghwa's agricultural specialty products. We will continue to discover differentiated processed products utilizing local resources to deliver results that satisfy both farmers and consumers."

"The new products unveiled by Bonghwa County are noteworthy as they represent an effort to pioneer new markets through processing and industrialization, rather than simply selling raw agricultural products."

In particular, the functional products combining mushrooms and apples align with the latest consumer trends of 'healthy and convenient foods,' and are expected to further enhance the future competitiveness of local agriculture.

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