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.

Founded in 1978, Woomtree Co., Ltd. is a leading Korean sauce manufacturer with 47 years of experience in producing spices, premixes, sauces and traditional fermented pastes. The company exports more than 80 kinds of sauces to more than 50 countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, the UK, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. The number of export destinations reached 45 countries in June 2024. In 2023, Woomtree’s sauce exports reached KRW 6.9 billion, reflecting steady growth, with sales in the first half of this year reaching KRW 3.3 billion. In Korea, Woomtree is recognized as the top player in the fresh wasabi market. Its seasoned dipping sauces are also popular. Woomtree’s fermented pastes are produced using a unique process that sets them apart from competitors that typically rely on rapid high-temperature maturation. Rather, Woomtree ferments and ages its pastes in tanks 3 meters underground at 20-25°C for 20-25 days. This method enhances the authentic flavor of the fermented pastes. In addition, Woomtree does not use malt syrup in its products, which helps preserve the savory, clean flavors for longer without becoming overly sweet. These distinctive fermented pastes are a hallmark of Woomtree’s sauces and serve as the foundation for its signature flavors. The company’s emphasis on differentiation and localization has been a key driver of the growing popularity of Korean sauces in global markets, with Woomtree tailoring its sauces to complement K-Food using traditional Korean fermented pastes. Some of Woomtree’s most popular products include “Naengmyeon Sauce,” “Jjolmyeon Sauce” (for spicy, chewy noodles), and “Noodles & Bibim Sauce,” which can be added directly to cold or chewy noodles without additional preparation. Other customer favorites include “Jeyukbokkeum Sauce” (for stir-fried pork) and “Bulgogi Marinade,” which offer convenient ways to prepare traditional Korean dishes. Export staples such as “Golbaengi Sauce” (for spicy sea snails), “Tonkatsu Sauce” and “Jellyfish Sauce” are consistently in demand. In Thailand, Woomtree’s soy sauce for marinated crab has gained immense popularity and has been localized to suit the region’s hot and humid climate, allowing consumers to easily prepare dishes such as marinated shrimp, salmon or crab at home. The company’s Capsaicin Sauce, inspired by the global craze for spicy Buldak noodles, has become a hit across the Americas and Europe. Just a spoonful adds a fiery kick to any dish. Other popular products such as “Charcoal Grilled Stir-Fry Sauce,” “Strong Mustard Sauce,” and “Strong Wasabi Sauce” also enjoy steady sales. To cater to international consumers, Woomtree has introduced portable and lightweight 120g tube packaging. Health-conscious markets can now enjoy low-sugar options such as Low-Sugar Red Chili Paste, Low-Sugar Gochujang and Low-Sugar Ssamjang (a mix of red chili paste and soybean paste). Beyond traditional Korean sauces, Woomtree has reinvented globally popular flavors such as “Chipotle Sauce,” “Garlic Dipping Sauce,” and “Horseradish Sauce,” giving them a distinctly Korean twist to appeal to diverse palates worldwide.