(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Ju-hong = Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong visited fruit distribution centers and major supermarkets on the 7th ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday to check the supply and demand situation of major seasonal products. Minister Song visited a fruit distribution center in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province, and inspected the apple selection and shipment site, urging, "Please manage to ensure the smooth supply of seasonal products." She then visited the Emart Cheonan store to examine the supply and demand trends of agricultural and livestock products and the operation status of the discount support project, saying, "We ask the distribution industry to cooperate in alleviating price burdens through their own discounts, etc." She added, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will also thoroughly check inventory and supply trends to minimize the burden on the shopping basket." To reduce the price burden during the Lunar New Year season, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is expanding the supply of agricultural and livestock products and providing extensive support for discount events. In the case of apples, the supply volume has been expanded 7.5 times compared to normal times, and the discount support volume for gift apple alternative demand has been increased by expanding the discount support volume for apple and pear medium and small fruit sets and Shine Muscat alternative fruit gift sets. Discount support for agricultural and livestock products is being carried out together with producer groups such as the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and self-help fund organizations. The scale of the discount support for this Lunar New Year is 167.6 billion won, which is an increase of 6.3% compared to last year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is investing 56.6 billion won among this to provide up to a 40% discount on purchase amounts for Lunar New Year seasonal products and alternative consumption items at large and medium-sized supermarkets, traditional markets, and online malls.