The Korea Fruit Industry Expo is Korea’s premier fruit selection competition, with more than 150 entries in 11 categories, including apples, pears, citrus, grapes, kiwis, persimmons, tomatoes, and paprikas, vying for top honors. Judges evaluate the fruit through a thorough quality evaluation, precise measurements, and visual inspection. Best in Category, Excellence Awards, and other awards are given based on several criteria, including appearance, size, color, ripeness, and freshness. In terms of taste, fruits are judged on flavor, sweetness, and acidity, while storage and packaging are judged on shelf life and presentation. Additional points are awarded for quality control during production, adherence to hygiene standards and the use of environmentally-friendly farming practices. Finally, innovation is factored in, including the development of new varieties, growing techniques and packaging designs.

In this highly competitive contest, the winning entries almost always achieve near-perfect scores in almost every judging category. Against this challenging backdrop, Eden Farming, located in Hamyang at the foot of Mt. Jiri, has achieved an extraordinary feat: winning the title of Korea’s Best Apple for three consecutive years - 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2022, Eden Farming’s Shinano Gold, commonly known as the “Golden Apple,” became the first of its kind to win the Excellence Award in the apple category. The following year, in 2023, the same variety won the prestigious Grand Prize, recognized as the best fruit in Korea. This year, the orchard won the Best in Category award for apples. Such a streak of consecutive awards is unprecedented in the Korean apple industry. Eden Farming’s CEO, Oh Seong-seob, attributed this remarkable success to the orchard’s exceptional geographic location at Mt. Jiri, the superior taste and quality of its apples, innovative packaging methods, and commitment to environmentally-friendly farming practices.

Eden Farming grows 7,000 apple trees in its 7,000-pyeong (approximately 23,140 square meters) orchard. The orchard uses cutting-edge techniques such as high-density planting, multi-leader training systems, and double-row structures. Over the past five years, CEO Oh Seong-seob has undertaken a transformative overhaul of the farm. This included removing 3,000 12-year-old apple trees, previously dominated by the Busa and Hongro varieties, and replacing them with new cultivars to create a high-density, multi-leader orchard. As a result, Eden Farming now boasts a diverse range of apple varieties, including 3,000 Shinano Gold trees, 1,500 Enbu trees, 1,000 Dahong trees, 700 Arisu trees, 700 Geumhong trees, and 700 Moon Rouge trees. In addition to diversifying its apple varieties, the farm has implemented environmentally-friendly farming practices to improve soil health and immunity. These practices include the use of herbal compost, apple juice byproduct fertilizer, agricultural liquid fertilizer, effective microorganisms (EM), and soil amendments such as sulfur-based products. To address the challenges of climate change, Eden Farming has also installed micro-sprinklers and shading nets to grow healthier, more flavorful apples. These innovative efforts have solidified Eden Farming’s reputation as a leader in the Korean apple industry.

Eden Farming’s flagship variety, Shinano Gold (Golden Apple), is a bright yellow apple known for its exceptional balance of sweetness and acidity, juicy texture, and impressive resistance to discoloration. With 3,000 Shinano Gold trees, this variety is the cornerstone of the farm’s production. Another standout variety is the Enbu Apple (Peach Apple), which has the red flesh that inspired its nickname. Celebrated for its rich peach-like aroma and exquisite balance of sweetness and acidity, the Enbu Apple offers a flavor profile that captivates the palate. Although more challenging to grow than other varieties, its unmatched flavor sets a new standard in apple quality. The Moon Rouge Apple, a recent addition whose first crop is expected in 2025, has a striking orange exterior and red-striped flesh, delivering a tart yet sweet flavor profile that sets it apart. In addition to these signature varieties, Eden Farming grows a diverse range of apples including Geumhong, Arisu, Chohong, Dahong, Nagano Shingu and Busa. Together, these nine varieties yield approximately 10,000 boxes of apples annually, generating direct sales of KRW 500 million.