Hallagold Farming Guild Corp. grows delicious kiwi on Jejudo

Kiwi has ample fiber whose content is almost threefold that included in apple. And with low GI (glycemic index), it is effective for weight control as it helps people consume fat more easily and prevents accumulation of much fat.  This is why kiwi is widely reputed as a good food for a diet. Besides, it carries plenty of vitamins C & E and minerals such as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. For a main supplier of kiwi with such diverse effects, people bring up New Zealand first. Now, however, Jejudo, with its clean natural environment, is emerging as a big supplier of kiwi. Kiwi farming on Jejudo is so active that its output from the island accounts for half of the total kiwi production from South Korea. And the successful soft landing of kiwi on Jeju, so far famous as the main producer of tangerine orange, can be explained by the operation of Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation.

Solid Production Infrastructure Grows Quality Kiwi
Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation was created in 2008 when nine farming households from Jeju united. When Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation enabled farmers’ joint operation in screening and shipment, farmers began to work together.  Currently, 220 farm households are its members. CEO Ko Bong-ju of Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation said, “As the launch of our farming guild corporation enabled our exclusive use of new homegrown varieties developed by Rural Development Administration (RDA), our production found stability.” In fact, RDA and Hallagold acquired its right to produce and sell Hallagold kiwi and Sweet Gold by signing up for its exclusive right to their application.

Having acquired such solid infrastructure for kiwi production, Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation has gotten itself ready to produce quality kiwi by education in advanced farming site in New Zealand, regular farmer education, technical information exchange among farmers, and technological upgrade for all farmers. In 2014, the guild corporation registered with National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) and implemented pre-harvest test for residual pesticides. Produced kiwi goes through screening and packaging at Producers’ Distribution Center built in 2012. In 2013, the completion of Pollen Production Center brought further stability of its production of homegrown kiwi.

CEO Ko Bong-ju said, “To ensure kiwi production according to the screening and quality management standard, we are conducting farmer training,” and added, “And by creating residual pesticide standard table for Korea and other countries kiwi is exported to, we provide it to farmers for their application in farming.” He added, “Distribution Center and Pollen Production Center have provided a basis for helping farmers stay focused on stable kiwi production. Our system for production and distribution has ensured our production of quality kiwi.”

The kiwi supplied by Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation has been recognized at home for its excellent quality. It received Excellent Variety Award and Bronze Award in Best Farm Product Fair in 2010, and was designated in 2014 as an excellent farm product management facility by NAQS, and was certified for its excellent farm product management by Jeju National University in the same year.

Marketing Strategy Customized to Preferences of Overseas Markets
Equipped with its infrastructure for producing sufficient amounts of quality kiwi, Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation now sets its sights on international markets.   Starting with its export to Singapore in October 2015, the corporation now sends kiwi to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Japan.
The corporation sends mainly gold and red kiwi to Southeast Asian countries, as they prefer kiwi with high sugar and less tartness. The corporation supplies mostly green kiwi to Japan where consumers prefer sweet and sour.
CEO Go Bong-ju said with confidence, “Red kiwi is very sweet at 18 degree Brix. In Southeast Asian markets, our products prevail over Zespri.”

Hallgold Farming Guild Corporation is going to increase its international sales with Halla Sweet, a strategic variety for export that has been developed by RDA.  CEO Go said, “Free from the pungent taste which is peculiar to kiwi and with a good mouthfeel, Halla Sweet will be even better for consumers. Our export last year was about 235 tons, and we aim to increase to 480 tons this year.”
 He further said emphatically, “On top of the Southeast Asian countries we are exporting to, we will push to sell kiwi to other countries in the region and even India. I think excellent quality delivers our sufficient viability in international markets. I am sure that the kiwi produced by Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation will surpass New Zealand and become the world’s best kiwi brand.”

Hallagold Farming Guild corporation  Hallagold Farming Guild Corporation
·Tel: +82 64-746-4841, +82 10-4695-4847 (Ko Bong-ju, CEO)
·Fax: +82 64-755-4841
·E-mail: jejukiwi@naver.com
www.kiwirang.co.kr