(농협) Nonghyup has now had young green mandarins on the market for a month. Their sale price, however, has been much higher than what was expected.

Joseph Kim reports.




Report

Young green mandarins had been temporarily allowed to be on the market for a month beginning September 15th.

[slug] Green mandarins on sale at Hanaro Mart

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.

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.

[slug] Nonghyup allows market to set prices

But this year, instead of pre-fixing the purchase price, the federation determined the price after selling it to consumers on a trial basis.

The test was successful.

CG in

(농협) Nonghyup expected to sell about 100 tons grown at 60 farms which had applied for the shipment.

However, more than 150 tons of young green mandarins were sold this fall as demand from beverage manufacturers including pickle makers increased.

The price of the young mandarins was set at 1,400 won. That’s four times higher than the price the Jeju Province Development Corporation suggested last year.

CG-OUT

INTERVIEW
Oh Jun-hyeop / Representative, Nonghyup
After tasting the pickled young green mandarins, consumers decided they are new and fresh - like a well-made coffee beverage - and many bought them.
[인터뷰 오준협 / 농협 제주본부 감귤명품화추진단 과장]
"소비지에서는 풋귤청을 시음하고 신선하다, 카페에서 먹는 음료수같다 등 신선한 부분이 많아서 풋귤을 구매하는 소비자가 많았습니다."

And the price has far surpassed growers’ ambitions. They had hoped the price to be set at 1,000 won per kilogram.

The province’s financial support for pesticide residue testing as well as logistics contributed to the higher price.

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

And this year’s overall mandarin production has decreased.

This means that the price of ripe mandarins will be high and green mandarin production was voluntarily controlled by farmers.

Less production of the green fruit gave (농협) Nonghyup the lead when negotiating with mandarin processors.

[slug] Price fluctuates depending on production

The price of next year’s green mandarins cannot be projected because it will depend on the production.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol

This year’s trial by (농협) Nonghyup has shown the potential of the green mandarin market and reminded insiders about the importance of production control.

Joseph Kim, KCTV