Kims Club boosts output of Naju Apple Hobak sweet potatoes by 50%

Kims Club, a supermarket brand operated by Eland Retail, said Tuesday it has expanded this year's output of Apple Hobak fresh sweet potatoes by more than 50 percent compared with last year.

The Apple Hobak sweet potato combines the firm texture of chestnut sweet potatoes with the moist, sweet flavor of pumpkin sweet potatoes. Freshly harvested, the tubers are firm; as they ripen after harvest, the flesh grows more moist and the sweetness intensifies.

Kims Club consulted with farming households in advance on this year's production targets, reflecting strong customer response to the variety last year. The retailer increased output by more than 50 percent year-on-year and moved up the harvest schedule to begin supplying stores in early August.

A sweet potato farm in Naju, South Jeolla Province, that has supplied Kims Club for about 10 years has expanded its cultivation area from roughly 99,000 square meters at the start of the relationship to about 1.32 million square meters today. Through direct sourcing and bulk purchasing, Kims Club is offering the Apple Hobak fresh sweet potatoes at roughly 20 to 30 percent below the average market price.

"We shared last year's sales data and customer feedback with our farming partners to expand Apple Hobak sweet potato output this year," a Kims Club official said. "We will continue to work closely with farmers to bring high-quality produce to customers at reasonable prices."