South Korea Allium insights

(Yeongcheon=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Kang-il = The "1st Korea Garlic Industry Expo," hosted by the Korea Garlic Association and the Garlic Mandatory Pool Fund Management Committee, opened on the 25th at the Yeongcheon Gymnasium in Gyeongbuk. The expo, which runs until the 27th, is organized for agricultural stakeholders, including garlic producers and experts from across the nation, to discuss the present and future of the garlic industry and to share innovative technologies. The event is divided into three sections: the Vision Hall (Yeongcheon Gymnasium), the Future Hall (Life Sports Hall), and an outdoor exhibition area. In the Vision Hall, professional consultations and symposiums on garlic cultivation techniques will provide practical know-how to farmers. The Future Hall will feature high-quality garlic submitted by over 100 farms from 20 cities and counties across the country. Superior garlic, selected through evaluations by variety (Namdo, Daeseo, Hanji), will be awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize. The outdoor exhibition area will showcase advanced agricultural machinery and various agricultural materials, including garlic seeders and harvesters, from 24 domestic agricultural machinery companies, introducing the latest technologies. Additionally, the Byeollitchon Maeyoja Market in Yeongcheon will participate, selling Yeongcheon's superior agricultural products, and food trucks will offer a variety of food. An official from Yeongcheon City said, "We expect the first garlic industry expo in Korea to provide new growth opportunities for farmers and industry stakeholders and to inform consumers about the value of garlic."

(Changnyeong=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-min = Changnyeong County's local specialty, garlic, has been steadily supplied to the global fast-food franchise company, Korea McDonald's, attracting attention. According to Changnyeong County on the 24th, the Changnyeong Horticultural Association Joint Business Corporation has been supplying garlic to Korea McDonald's from the 11th until September 17, for about five weeks. The exact supply amount is being tallied. Previously, from 2021 to 2023, approximately 170 tons of garlic were delivered annually during the same period. During this period, the "McDonald's Changnyeong Garlic Burger" using Changnyeong garlic sold over 5.37 million units, garnering significant popularity. A county official emphasized, "Changnyeong has abundant sunlight, good soil, and sufficient moisture, making the garlic flavor deep and sweet." This year, it is expected that over 3,000 farms in Changnyeong will produce 65,105 tons of garlic on 3,677 hectares, recording the largest cultivation area and production volume in the nation.

[Reporter Gu Ja-ryong, Korea Farmers and Fishermen Newspaper] The "Changnyeong Garlic Burger," which captures the flavor of Changnyeong's hat garlic, the largest garlic production area in the nation, has been re-released. On the 11th, Changnyeong County (Mayor Seong Nak-in) held a promotional tasting event for the re-release of the McDonald's "Changnyeong Garlic Burger" using Changnyeong hat garlic at the Ibang Agricultural Cooperative. Mayor Seong Nak-in attended the event, along with Lee Pan-am, Chairman of the Changnyeong County Cooperative Operations Council (Chairman of Namji Agricultural Cooperative), other agricultural cooperative chairmen, and Shin Woo-gyeong, Director of the Changnyeong Branch of the Agricultural Cooperative. They announced the re-release of the "Changnyeong Garlic Burger" on that day. Changnyeong County, which accounts for approximately 22% of the nation's garlic production, is the largest garlic production area.