2,130 kg of Jeju citrus fruits detected in nationwide wholesale markets, despite distribution ban

(Jeju=Yonhap News) Reporter Go Seong-sik = Recently, after the harvest of Jeju's outdoor citrus fruits began this year, a large number of substandard citrus fruits were detected in the national wholesale market.

From the 14th to the 15th, Jeju conducted a two-day joint inspection with the autonomous police unit, supply management center, and administrative city, forming a joint inspection team of 10 people divided into three groups. They focused on inspecting the Seoul Garak Market, Gyeonggi Guri Market, and Daegu North Market.

The inspection resulted in the detection of 2,130 kg of substandard citrus fruits in a total of 15 cases. The detected citrus fruits were either smaller than 45 mm in diameter or larger than 77 mm, making them smaller or larger than the product size standards, and thus prohibited from distribution.

Jeju plans to trace the local fruit and vegetable warehouses that shipped the detected citrus fruits and impose fines according to the "Jeju Citrus Production and Distribution Ordinance."

As the shipment of this year's outdoor Satsuma mandarins begins in earnest, Jeju plans to strengthen inspections.

Starting from the 20th, joint inspections will be conducted on 384 local traditional markets and fruit and vegetable warehouses, and fines will be imposed immediately without warning if substandard citrus fruits are found in circulation.

Additionally, a focused surveillance system will be established for habitual violators to prevent the illegal shipment of substandard citrus fruits to other regions.

According to the Jeju Agricultural Products Supply Management Center, the size standards for marketable citrus fruits are: 2S or less (45 mm or more to less than 49 mm) with a sugar content of 10 Brix or more, 2S to 2L (49 mm to 70 mm), and 2L or more (70 mm to 77 mm) with a sugar content of 10 Brix or more.