Status and successful experience of strawberry export in South Korea

South Korea’s strawberry planting started in 2005, with Japanese varieties Red Pearl and Zhang Ji as the main production, and Korean varieties accounted for less than 10%.
With the popularization of Xuexiang, Meixiang, bamboo and Christmas red varieties, In 2018, the share of Korean varieties was more than 95%, and the planting method changed from soil cultivation to soilless cultivation
.
According to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , in 2019, South Korea’s total strawberry planting area was 6212hm2, the total output was 193 million tons, the export volume was 5259 tons, the export value was 52.
6 million U.
S.
dollars, and the export value was three times that of 2009
.
South Korea’s strawberry export development experience is worth learning from China’s strawberry industry
.

 

01

Market Development Trends of Major Export Objects of Korean Strawberries

 

South Korea’s fresh strawberry exports were dominated by Japan in the 1990s.
After 2006, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and other places were the main export markets.
In 2017, Hong Kong and Singapore accounted for the total strawberry exports in Korea.
70% of export volume
.

 

China Hong Kong

 

　　In 2017, the market size of fresh strawberries in Hong Kong, China was 7,700 tons.
The largest market share is the strawberry produced in the United States, which imports about 3,000 tons throughout the year; the strawberry produced in South Korea ranks second, with a scale of about 2,600 tons (18 million US dollars)
.
Hong Kong, China is the largest export market for Korean strawberries
.

 

　　Singapore

 

　　In 2017, the market size of fresh strawberries in Singapore was 3700 tons (US$27 million)
.
Strawberries produced in South Korea accounted for 36.
2% (1338t), ranking first; strawberries produced in the United States accounted for 31.
2%; strawberries produced in Australia accounted for 22.
2%
.

 

　　Malaysia

 

　　In 2017, the total import volume of fresh strawberries in Malaysia was 1377t ($7.
7 million)
.
Among them, strawberries produced in South Korea accounted for 30.
3% (417t), ranking first; followed by strawberries produced in Australia, accounting for 28.
8% (396t); strawberries produced in Egypt accounted for 20.
3% (279t)
.
The majority of Malaysians who consume strawberries are Chinese and local middle and upper-class people.
Although the price of strawberries produced in Korea is higher than that of other countries, due to the influence of the Korean Wave and Malaysians’ preference for sweet strawberries, the demand for strawberries produced in Korea is increasing
.
More than 80% of imported fresh strawberries are sold in large-scale stores, and the remaining 20% ​​are sold in community supermarkets or ultra-large supermarkets
.
Locally produced strawberries have a small cause and effect, a strong sour taste, and lack of competitiveness
.

 

　　Thailand

 

　　In 2017, Thailand imported 1,850 tons of fresh strawberries, of which South Korea produced 636 tons (accounting for 34.
4%), followed by Australia (accounting for 31.
8%) and the United States (accounting for 20.
8%)
.
Thailand imposes a high tariff (40%) on strawberries produced in South Korea, but imposes zero tariffs on strawberries from New Zealand and Australia, so South Korea is at a disadvantage in terms of price competition
.
Because there is no fierce competition with Thai-produced fruits, customs clearance procedures are relatively easy
.
Compared with the strawberries produced in the United States and Australia, the strawberries produced in South Korea have high sugar content, strong flavor, fine quality and good fruit shape.
Therefore, in the eyes of Thai consumers, Korean strawberries are high-end fruits
.

 

　　Vietnam

 

　　In 2016, the import scale of strawberries in Vietnam was 275t, and strawberries produced in South Korea accounted for 81.
8%
.
In 2015, the United States produced the highest proportion of strawberries, at 94.
7%, but after 2016, Korean strawberries replaced the United States and ranked first
.
Strawberries are sold as high-end fruits in "Fruits shop" fruit specialty stores or medium and large stores
.

 

　　Taiwan, China

 

　　In 2017, China's Taiwanese strawberry imports totaled 933t, of which the United States accounted for 64.
3%, New Zealand accounted for 18.
1%, Japan accounted for 10.
1%, and South Korea accounted for 7.
6%
.
However, compared with 2016, the order of import growth rate is South Korea 192%> New Zealand 174%> Japan 170%> United States 113%
.
The retail prices of Korean strawberries and American strawberries in the Wellcome store are the same, but they are about 5% higher than those produced in Taiwan
.
The selling price of Japanese strawberries is two to three times higher than that of South Korea and the United States.
They are mainly sold in department stores and high-end supermarkets
.
White strawberries (Dalesuki) produced in Japan are sold at high prices in high-end supermarkets
.
The market gives high praise to Korean strawberries: "It has higher sugar content, fragrant and delicious taste than the strawberries produced in Taiwan, China" and "there is no difference in quality compared with Japanese strawberries
.
"

 

　　02

　　South Korean strawberry export experience

　　Cultivate export-specific varieties

 

　　At present, more than 90% of the varieties used for export in South Korea are plum fragrant.
The advantages of strong flavor and durability are the main reasons for this variety to become the main export variety.
However, this variety also has disadvantages such as difficulty in planting, low yield, and high rate of deformed fruits in low temperature period.

.
Therefore, in 2020, the Korean Rural Development Agency proposed to replace plum fragrant varieties as the goal, and organize the National Horticultural Academy of Sciences, various agricultural technology institutes, universities and other units to carry out the "new strawberry varieties for export" work
.
The goal is to select varieties that meet the preferences of exporters and have suitable export characteristics
.
At present, market tests are being conducted on Xuexiang, Jinsi, Alixiang, and Bamboo Incense
.
Plum fragrant can only be harvested in 70%~80% colored state and Xuexiang in 70% colored state, while golden silk and alixiang have the best color and flavor when 90% colored state, so this point should be fully considered when exporting strawberries.

.
In order to achieve annual supply, South Korea is also actively carrying out the selection and breeding of four-season varieties and seed-propagating varieties
.

 

　　Strengthen the safety management of strawberry exports

 

　　South Korean producers of exported strawberries are subject to safety inspections conducted by the National Agricultural Safety and Quality Management Institute for exported strawberries.
Therefore, they must implement reasonable pest control in accordance with the guidelines for safe use of pesticides to achieve safe production of strawberries
.
For example, strawberries exported to Taiwan, China, must comply with the "Guidelines for the Use of Strawberry Pesticides Exported to Taiwan, China" from the early stage of production, and efforts must be made to ensure the safety and trust of strawberries
.
In the Southeast Asian market, except for Taiwan, China has not yet implemented the PLS [Positive List System, which sets food hazardous substance residue permit standards (MRL).
If there is no standard set of pesticide residues in food, a certain amount (0.
01mg/ kg) above, the system will be prohibited from selling]
.
However, in order to export strawberry safety management, export management must be carried out in accordance with the PLS standard of Taiwan, China
.
Taiwan stipulates in writing that "pesticides not included in the list cannot be detected.
" Japan refers to Taiwan's safety management system as PLS
.
There are other standards according to the standard (mostly 0.
01mg/kg), and there is no other standard according to the implementation of undetectable
.

 

　　From 2014 to 2017, 8 violations of the safety of strawberry imports from Taiwan, China occurred due to excessive levels of 8 ingredients including flonicamid (an insecticide)
.
Taiwan’s licensing standards for strawberry residue pesticides are stricter than those of Korea
.
Pesticides that have not set standards are used, and pesticides that are not allowed to be detected are not allowed
.
In order to continue to expand exports to Taiwan, China, it is necessary to divide production bases and conduct special management
.

 

　　The outline of the new pesticide residue restriction law implemented in Hong Kong, China, includes: sanctions when the notified pesticide residue standards are exceeded, a maximum fine of 50,000 Hong Kong dollars for violations and six months of detention
.
Pesticides and foods with no explicit residue standards can be imported and sold only when it is judged that they are not harmful to health
.

 

　　Maintain the freshness of strawberries and increase their commodity value

 

　　After the strawberry is harvested, because the quality changes rapidly, it is mainly transported by air (when transported by ship, it is difficult to maintain the freshness due to the long time)
.
In order to shorten the transportation time, a special flight for strawberry export was also proposed
.
It is recommended to follow the sequence of "pre-cooling-fresh-keeping treatment-packaging" after harvesting of exported strawberries
.
Strawberries are easy to rot quickly.
When the temperature is high, within 1 to 3 hours after harvest, use low-temperature storage, forced ventilation and pre-cooling, etc.
to maintain the strawberry temperature (internal temperature) at 4~5°C, and the reasonable temperature is 0~2°C , The relative humidity is 90%~95%
.
MA conditions: 5%~10% O2, 15%~25% CO2, adjust the gas composition in the package, have the effect of keeping fresh, preventing water loss, inhibiting low temperature damage and microbial reproduction
.
The Changpyeong Agricultural Cooperative of South Korea treats the strawberries harvested after April with about 25% chlorine dioxide (ClO2) for 30 minutes (scale: 4 trays/time), and then screens, packs, and sells them for export
.
It adopts one-layer or two-layer packaging, with an air film in the box for cushioning, and there is also a packaging method with one-layer egg trays
.

 

　　Established a comprehensive strawberry export organization

 

　　In order to promote strawberry exports, the Korea Rural Promotion Agency has formulated the "Cultivation of Strawberry Export Program".
Through this organization, the export window is unified, and the distribution process is unified through the comprehensive organization of the signing of listing agreements, quality management, and supply
.
This organization is in charge of operating advanced and outstanding cases, as well as carrying out the exchange and communication of the latest information
.

 

　　The Strawberry Export Comprehensive Organization conducts full tracking, monitoring and investigation of enterprises and farmers that export strawberries, and prints and distributes the "Strawberry Export Guidelines" manual to guide farmers in standardized and safe production of strawberries
.
In order to encourage strawberry exports, the South Korean government has also formulated a strawberry subsidy policy to provide certain subsidies to air logistics costs
.

 

　　Recently, the Korean Rural Development Agency proposed a plan of "intelligent policy aimed at realizing strawberry exports of 100 million U.
S.
dollars.
" It intends to further develop the potential of the Southeast Asian market while further exploring emerging markets such as Europe and mainland China.
From the SO strategy (capability) It comprehensively analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of Korean strawberry exports from the perspectives of ST strategy (selection concentration), WO strategy (seize opportunities), and WT strategy (improve disadvantages)
.