GS The Fresh Volunteers at Workplace for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities... Purchases 382 Tons of Tomatoes Over Five Years

Helping With Tomato Harvesting, Sorting, and Packaging at Purme Social Farm

Collaboration Began in 2021... Purchase Volume Increased 20.9 Times Last Year

GS The Fresh, the supermarket operated by GS Retail, announced on April 24 that its employees participated in volunteer activities at Purme Social Farm, a smart farm where young adults with developmental disabilities work. The activities included harvesting tomatoes, sorting products, and packaging.

Purme Social Farm is a smart farm for people with disabilities, established to support the independence of young adults with developmental disabilities. On approximately 5,950 square meters (about 1,800 pyeong) of glass greenhouse space, the farm cultivates and processes cherry tomatoes. In addition, it operates a bakery cafe and an education and cultural center, providing not only jobs but also integrated support for education and leisure programs.

GS Retail employees are harvesting tomatoes at Purme Social Farm. Photo by GS Retail

GS The Fresh began its cooperation with Purme Social Farm in July 2021. Since the collaboration started, GS The Fresh has purchased a cumulative total of 382 tons of tomatoes. As of last year, the annual purchase volume had grown 20.9 times compared to the first year of the partnership.

The company expects that this collaboration will provide young adults with developmental disabilities with stable employment and opportunities for independence, while also helping to promote disability awareness and the values of mutual growth within the local community.

Kim Kyungjin, Head of Supermarket MD at GS Retail, said, "We will continue our efforts to expand sustainable models for mutual growth in the future."

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