(농협) Nonghyup put young green mandarins on the market beginning August 15th. As Joseph Kim now reports, more growers are interested in selling them this year.






Report

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Aewol-eup, Jeju City

Farmers are busy picking young green mandarins.

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Green mandarins on the market through September 15

The unripe fruit will be sold for a month until September 15th. Mandarin growers are anticipating a high return.

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On sale at Hanaro Mart

The green fruit was previously only sold online.

But this year the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation or (농협) Nonghyup decided to purchase it and sell it at its supermarket chain, (하나로) Hanaro Mart, for the first time.

INTERVIEW
Gang Myeong-sun / Owner, Eco-friendly citrus farm
Last year, we sold young mandarins in two sizes: standard and small. This year, we lowered the price and improved the quality.
[인터뷰 강명순 / 친환경 감귤 재배 농가 ]
" 작년에는 맞춤 풋귤, 작은 풋귤 2가지로 나갔어요. 가격도 낮추고 올해는 풋귤청을 위한 농사였기 때문에 정품 ,최고품만 판매할 겁니다."

Last year, authorities set the price of unripe mandarins too low: 320 won per kilogram. Mandarin growers didn’t show interest in the sale of the green fruit.

But this year, the authorities targeted the domestic fruit market and didn’t fix the purchase price.

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Nonghyup allowing market to set prices

Instead of pre-fixing the purchase price, the federation will determine the price after selling it to consumers.

Additionally, the province aids mandarin farmers in logistics costs.

The federation expects more than 1,000 won per kilogram.

INTERVIEW
Oh Jun-hyeop / Representative, Nonghyup
We can’t make a prediction about the price at the moment. Growers hope it will be at least 1,000 won per kilogram, and we’ll do whatever we can to make that happen.
[인터뷰 오준협 / 농협 제주본부 감귤명품화추진단 과장]
"현재로서는 가격을 예측할 수 없고 최소한 농가들이 희망하는 가격이 (kg당) 천원이기 때문에 그에 맞추도록 노력을 하고 있습니다만. "

The province is making efforts to extend the green mandarin market by giving financial support for pesticide residue testing as well as logistics.

INTERVIEW
Yi Gwang-ju / Jeju Agricultural Research & Extension Services
There’s a longer shipping period this year, and financial support is available for logistics.
[인터뷰 이광주 / 제주도농업기술원 농업연구사 ]
"출하기간이 조금 더 연장됐고요. 그리고 물류비 등이 지원되는 것이 달라진 점이라 할 수 있습니다. "

It is estimated that about 720 tons of young green mandarins will be on the market this summer through web shopping malls and Hanaro Mart.

Some studies found out that unripe mandarins are rich in nutrients beneficial to your health.

Beverage manufacturers are developing products using the green fruit.

Authorities would expect production control for the mandarins, if the young fruit sells well.

[Report] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon

Therefore, this year will be a very important year to test and assess the young mandarin market across the nation.

Joseph Kim, KCTV