In September 2015, local authorities simplified its classification of outdoor-grown mandarin oranges into five categories, rather than the previous 11. The province now wants to change the system again to account for sugar content. Minhoe Kim fills reports.




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Current mandarin standards based solely on size

Orchard-grown mandarin oranges are currently labeled according to size, designated as 2S, S, M, L, or 2L.

Fruit that is either too small or too large cannot be sold.

This categorization by size, however, is meaningless on the market.

Consumers tend towards the sweeter fruit, caring less about overall appearance and size.

INTERVIEW
Gang Nam-gyu / Nonghyup auction manager
Last year, mandarin oranges didn’t have a high sugar content, and the prices reflected that. They’re sweet this year, and more competitive with other fruits, including strawberries. As a result, the prices are also higher.
< 강남규 / 농협중앙회 가락공판장 경매부장 >
작년에 당도가 좋지 않고 품위도 낮아서 고전했었는데 올해는 당도가 높아서 딸기 등 경쟁과일과 경쟁을 잘 하고 있습니다. 시세도 높고...

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Province to reset grading standards, account for sugar content

The province has decided to restructure its mandarin orange quality standards, seeing as how consumers are attracted to the sweeter, though less visually-appealing fruit.


According to the province’s plan, 2S or smaller oranges would be allowed to be sold as long as their sugar content exceeds 10 degrees brix.


INTERVIEW
Yang Du-hwan / Director, Provincial dept. of citrus promotion
Experts have proposed that the quality standards be set according to sugar content. The province would include both sweetness levels and size in the new standard.
< 양두환 / 제주도 감귤진흥담당 >
당도 중심 출하 기준의 필요성을 제시하는 분들이 있어서 앞으로 상품의 품질 기준을 당도 또는 크기를 병행한 출하 기준을 마련하고...

However, mandarin growers are worried about the proposed change.

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Growers: ‘New standards after less than 2 years?’

The current standards have been in use for less than two years, and, as such, could cause confusion among mandarin growers.

INTERVIEW
Kim Yun-choen / Mandarin rep., Korean Peasants League (Jeju)
Basically, we agree that the standards should reflect consumer preference, but we cannot agree on the change to size. There are currently five categories, and to continue modifying this standard is exhausting.
< 김윤천 / 전국농민회제주도연맹 감귤분과위원장 >
큰 틀에서는 아무래도 이제는 예전하고 판매 시스템, 소비자 취향이 바뀌었기 때문에 바뀌긴 해야 하는데 (상품규격이) 5단계로 됐는데 /// 다시 또 건드리면 농가 혼선이 많습니다. 규격 조정은 소모적인 논쟁 밖에 안 돼요.

[Reporter] Minhoe Kim
[Camera] Moon Ho-seong

The province is planning to include other revisions that would change the allowed shipping period for immature green mandarin oranges, and would broaden the scope of quality standards for the future. The province has been holding information sessions since January 5th to detail the various changes for growers island-wide.

Minhoe Kim, KCTV