Grapes are Korea’s major export agricultural products. They are very popular in China and Southeast Asia, and Shine Muscat is recognized for its quality costing USD 68 a bundle at a luxury department store in China. However, the Korean government and farmhouses are busy moving further to develop the next variety. Hongju Seedless is the main product. ChungsilHongsil Agricultural Association Corporation (CHAAC) is also looking overseas, by exporting Hongju Seedless to Hong Kong.

#Features Red Fruit Color and High Sugar Content

Hongju Seedless is literally a seedless grape with red flesh. It was developed in 2013 by the Korea Rural Development Administration by crossing a variety with large fruits and a variety with good crunchy texture. It weighs about 500-600 g like Shine Muscat, the sugar content ranges from about 18 brix to a maximum of 20 brix, and it is characterized by a refreshing taste like Campbell’s Early grape. According to the Korean National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, grapes have excellent health functional and nutritional properties thanks to 20 times more antioxidants such as catechin and quercetin with anticancer and antibacterial properties, compared to other fruits eaten peeled. The main shipment period is September-October like other grapes, and Hongju Seedless is drawing attention as the next best cultivar to succeed Shine Muscat. The main area cultivation is in Sangju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the sacred place of Korean grapes. Recently, Hongju Seedless has also been exported to Hong Kong, etc.

#Hongju Seedless, Competitive Enough

Overseas, Hongju Seedless can be found via CHAAC. Established in 2020 by 8 farmers in Sangju, CHAAC has been professionally growing Hongju Seedless for the fourth year this year. Hongju Seedless has excellent quality as it has been cultivated by veterans who have been farming grapes for more than 15 years at an altitude of 300m above sea level, which is the best place for cultivation. Currently, it is sold at a similar price to Shine Muscat at Hyundai Department Store, and Korea’s largest retailer, E-Mart, has requested a full quantity sale. As such, Hongju Seedless is recognized for its competitiveness and quality as an upper-class product. CHAAC sees the distinctive red color of Hongju Seedless as its export strength, because the region, the main export market for Korean Shine Muscat, prefers red and Hongju Seedless has the best quality of red grapes on the market. CEO of CHAAC Kim Si-ho said, “Unlike ‘Ruby Roman’, which is famous for red grapes abroad, Hongju Seedless has strengths such as not even needing to be peeled. It is not only sweet but also has outstanding fresh taste and crunchy texture.”

#Leap From This Year

Currently, CHAAC grows Hongju Seedless in an area of about 3 ha. CHAAC plans to greatly expand the area to secure the quantity from next year. This is because Hongju Seedless is becoming more known and its Korea and overseas demand is highly likely to increase, such as exporting about 2 ton to Hong Kong. Recently, with the help of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), CHAAC received export inquiries from overseas buyers such as Singapore and Vietnam. It also plans to research long-term storage of Hongju Seedless to target China, the main export market. Through this, its strategy is to store and export the quantity until the Lunar New Year, one of the biggest holidays in East Asia. CEO Kim Si-ho said, “With strong publicity, we predict that market demand will increase in the future. You can check the elegance of red grapes even with your eyes because they need to ripe evenly to get a red color unlike green grapes. This is why Hongju Seedless is chosen strictly and we have strong pride in the quality. We look forward to receiving many more inquiries.”