Samcheok City to Launch Three Major Pilot Projects for Apple Cultivation in 2026

"Production Tripled, Storage Period Doubled"
Samcheok City Drives 'Technological Innovation' in the Apple Industry

Samcheok City in Gangwon Province is set to actively implement three major pilot projects to strengthen the competitiveness of the apple industry: a pilot project for fruit set improvement management technology in response to climate change, a pilot project for the dissemination of multi-leader apple tree systems, and a pilot project for the distribution of technologies to enhance apple freshness retention.

Samcheok City Hall exterior view.

First, the pilot project for fruit set improvement management technology in response to climate change aims to address the decline in pollination rates caused by the decrease in pollinators (such as honeybees) during the flowering period. The project will utilize pollinator bees (such as bumblebees) and artificial pollination technologies to increase fruit set rates and the proportion of marketable fruit. This initiative is expected to reduce the occurrence of deformed fruit, boost productivity, and contribute to increased farm income.

The pilot project for the dissemination of multi-leader apple tree systems focuses on establishing new orchard forms that are more cost-effective and labor-saving compared to conventional methods. By introducing multi-leader systems suitable for mechanical pruning and automated operations, the city expects to increase production by two to three times and reduce labor requirements by 25 to 30 percent.

Additionally, the pilot project for the distribution of technologies to enhance apple freshness retention utilizes 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) treatment technology to more than double the storage and distribution period of apples compared to existing methods. This will enable long-term storage and extend the period during which quality is maintained, thereby improving distribution stability and increasing income for farmers.

Through these three major pilot projects, Samcheok City aims to achieve three goals: establishing a stable production system in response to climate change, laying the foundation for smart orchards, and strengthening distribution competitiveness.

An official from Samcheok City stated, "The apple industry is a key pillar of agriculture in Samcheok, and these pilot projects will serve as an opportunity to enhance competitiveness throughout the entire process, from production to storage and distribution. We will continue to pursue technological innovation together with farmers to realize sustainable agriculture."

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