K-BERRY, an integrated strawberry export organization, is considered an instance of dramatically overcoming a crisis last year. There was great concern that strawberry exports would drop sharply when flights were suspended due to COVID-19, but instead, the actual exports increased through vessel export and exclusive aircraft flights. We met with Ko Kwan-dal, President of K-BERRY, to hear in detail about Korean strawberry exports. 

■Please give us a brief introduction to K-BERRY.
-Founded in 2018, K-BERRY is a Korean integrated strawberry export organization, with 34 producer organizations and 40 exporters participating as of 2020. As four Nonghyups, which had been autonomously exporting Korean strawberries, participated as member companies of K-BERRY, orderly marketing has been further strengthened. As such, the expansion of member companies generated the effect of diversifying varieties of Korean export strawberries, previously centered on the existing Maehyang, to include Kuemsil and Sulhyang. Currently, K-BERRY is in charge of 91% of total strawberry exports.

■Exports are continuing to grow despite COVID-19. I’d like to know how that has been possible.
-Last year, vessel export and adopting exclusive aircraft helped a great deal. Especially, strawberry exports to Singapore increased by 21% compared to the previous year. I believe it’s thanks to the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) cooperated with Korean Air to provide active support. Exports using vessel have also contributed to the expansion of strawberry exports. Air export is suitable due to the characteristics of strawberries with a short shelf life, but if only export volume is controlled properly, vessel export is quite possible in January and February when the weather is cold.

■What projects are you focused on promoting this year?
-We plan to export premium strawberries that cost more than 10% higher price starting from the latter half of this year by increasing strawberry fruit size and by increasing sugar content. Currently, strawberry farms that grow various types of strawberries are getting consulting for cultivation of premium strawberries. In general, Korean exported strawberries, such as Maehyang, are considered small in size, but if you manage the entire cultivation process well from seedling management, it’s quite possible to produce large and sugar-rich Maehyang strawberries. We plan to improve the quality of strawberries for export overall by setting different prices depending on their size.

■Lastly, please tell us about your aspirations.
-Korea is the world’s seventh largest exporter of strawberries. We export  strawberries to 26 countries around the world, and despite COVID-19, exports hit USD 53 million in 2020. Our export target for 2021 is USD 65 million, and we expect that it will be quite possible to achieve it considering the export performance of K-BERRY by the first half of the year. Starting with the Philippines in November, we will hold a large-scale promotional event to develop new markets such as Canada and make efforts to expand exports of premium strawberries.

Tel : +82-55-761-4564~5
Web : www.kberry.kr