Coupang announced on the 22nd that it would purchase 2,600 tons of strawberries in 10 regions nationwide, including Yeongam in South Jeolla Province and Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province, by April next year.
The scale of Coupang's strawberry purchasing season (November to April next year) exceeds double that of last year (1,200 tons). Coupang noted that demand for early morning delivery strawberries is increasing and has expanded new sources for purchasing strawberries. It also increased the quantity purchased from existing production areas.
Coupang recently expanded the five regions from which it purchases strawberries, including Nonsan in South Chungcheong Province and Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province, to 10 regions, including Yeongam in South Jeolla Province, Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province, and Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province. The number of agricultural companies and NongHyup member organizations that local farmers and households have joined increased from seven to 16.
The Miryang Fruit Farming Association said, "1,000 farmers from 173 strawberry farms that are members of the association have gained access to the online market through Coupang and secured consumers nationwide."
Kim Tae-nam, the representative of the Fruit Farming Association, said, "At the initial stage, Coupang has agreed to purchase more than 10% of the total strawberry volume, which has raised farmers' expectations." Coupang has been expanding its purchases of local farmers' fruits and seafood.
From January to August this year, the purchasing scale of apples in Chungju, South Chungcheong Province, melons in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang Province, and peaches and plums in Uiseong County increased more than threefold compared to 2021. The purchasing scale of directly shipped seafood from January to October this year also exceeded 1,000 tons, more than tripling compared to 2021.