Gangwon Agricultural Technology Institute, development of highland strawberry cultivation technology available for shipment in October

(Taebaek=Yonhap News) Reporter Yang Ji-woong = The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Technology Institute announced on the 27th that it has developed a strawberry cultivation technology that allows for the fastest shipment in the country by utilizing the cold climate of highland areas.

The provincial agricultural technology institute held a field evaluation meeting for the new highland strawberry crop with farmers, city and county officials at a strawberry demonstration farm in Taebaek City on the same day.

The cultivation technology introduced on this day is a new crop cycle that utilizes the cool climate of Taebaek's highlands to start shipments in October and induces dormancy during the winter months when heating costs are high, resuming in March of the following year.

By utilizing the cool summer climate of the highland areas, it is possible to produce healthy seedlings that are not affected by diseases, and particularly, the key technology of early strawberry production, flower bud differentiation, is well-executed, allowing for the production of high-quality fruit with excellent commercial value from 60 days after planting in October.

The price of strawberries produced from November through conventional cultivation is 16,000 won per kilogram, but strawberries produced early from October are priced at 23,000 won, verifying a 40% increase in farmers' income.

Furthermore, by inducing dormancy in the strawberries during the severe cold, it is possible to reduce heating costs by approximately 85%, which is expected to reduce operating costs.

Resuming cultivation from March of the following year, strawberries harvested from April to June have firmer flesh and higher sugar content compared to spring strawberries produced in southern regions, enhancing the competitiveness of highland strawberry cultivation.

Until now, there has been a perception that the Gangwon region is not favorable for strawberry cultivation due to the cold, but it is expected that this new crop cycle development will provide sufficient competitiveness.

Park Young-sik, head of the Horticulture Research Division at the Agricultural Technology Institute, said, "Strawberries are crops with high demand throughout the year, and particularly, producing them in October allows for high-priced shipments," and added, "We will strive to create a new income model for Gangwon highland farmers."