South Korea Agriculture & Food insights

[Reporter Lee Jang-hee, Korea Farmers' News] The Gyeonggi Branch of the National Agro-Food Quality Management Service will conduct a 'special inspection for grain labeling violations' until November 30, focusing on the metropolitan areas of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. The Gyeonggi Branch is carrying out this inspection to prevent fraudulent distribution practices, such as disguising old rice as new rice or labeling rice that has been milled a long time ago as recently milled. The inspection targets grain processing companies, including rice processing centers (RPC) and rice mills, as well as grain sales companies such as group catering suppliers and small-pack vendors, and will enforce the mandatory labeling of eight items including the production year, milling date, origin, and variety of rice according to the 'Grain Management Act'.

[Livestock News=Reporter Ju Sang-ho] The Dongchangwon Branch of the Korea Pork Producers Association (Branch Head Lee Jung-ho) and the Seochangwon Branch of the Korea Pork Producers Association (Branch Head Yoo Ki-ok) donated a pig (weighing 690 kg, valued at 11 million won) to the Changwon Special City on the 17th, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, to ensure a bountiful festival for the marginalized in the region. The pork delivered on this day was sent to 25 free meal centers in collaboration with the five ward offices of Changwon Special City. Branch Heads Lee Jung-ho and Yoo Ki-ok, who organized this event, said, "We want to convey the warm hearts of pig farmers to neighbors who may feel the festival more lonely" and "Although it is a small gesture, we hope this sharing will help in spending a bountiful Chuseok."

[Seoul Agricultural Products Wholesale Market Report by Seosaeng Hyun, Korea Farmers and Fishermen Newspaper] The Seoul Metropolitan Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation's mandate for pallet shipment of watermelon vehicles entering the Gangseo Agricultural Products Wholesale Market has been causing losses for shippers, distributors, and consumers alike. The external sorting facility operation has increased the number of shipment stages and logistics costs. The Seoul Metropolitan Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation made pallet loading mandatory for watermelons entering the Gangseo Market starting April 1 this year, with the intention of increasing the market's competitiveness through logistics efficiency. However, wholesale sellers within the Gangseo Market have opposed this, calling it a regression in logistics. The increase in logistics costs has become a factor in the rise of consumer prices, and ultimately