Asan Bae's 2025 crop of early-season 'Wonhwang' pears begins its journey to the U.S. with an initial export of 98 tons.

(Asan=Yonhap News) Reporter Yu Ui-ju = Asan City in South Chungcheong Province announced on the 20th that the local specialty, 'Asan pear', is set to embark on its first export journey to the United States this year.

The Asan Horticultural Farmers Association held the 'First shipment ceremony for the export of 2025 Asan pear to the United States' at the Hub Agricultural Products Distribution Center (APC) the previous day. The shipment this time consists of 98 tons of early-ripening 'Wonhwang' pears, which will be sold through local distributors in the United States.

Local pear farmers have faced significant difficulties in exports due to a sharp decline in production caused by frost damage in the spring and record-breaking heatwaves in the summer over the past two to three years.

The Horticultural Farmers Association and the farmers have been actively expanding the cultivation of early-ripening varieties, which have an earlier harvest time than the existing main varieties, to secure a stable export volume.

The city plans to expand the reach of Asan pears to global markets, including Canada and the Philippines, in addition to the United States, by steadily following up on export contracts starting with this first shipment.