Gov't to 3.5x pear supply, spend W149b to ease Chuseok shopping burden

The government will expand pear supplies to 146,000 tons ahead of Chuseok — 3.5 times the normal volume — and commit 149 billion won ($111 million) to discount support for agricultural and livestock products to ease the holiday shopping burden.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Minister Song Mi-ryeong visited a fruit-sector APC in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, and the Lotte Mart Anseong branch on Saturday to inspect the supply and distribution of Chuseok seasonal goods.

The ministry expanded pear supplies during the Chuseok peak season to 146,000 tons — 3.5 times the normal level — by releasing volumes secured through contract farming and designated shipment arrangements. The number of discounted gift sets, covering small-sized apples and pears as well as alternative fruits such as Shine Muscat grapes and mandarin varieties, rose to 230,000 this year from 150,000 last year.

After observing pear sorting and shipment operations at the APC, Song thanked staff for their efforts. "I am grateful to everyone working on the ground even on weekends," she said, urging them to ensure uninterrupted distribution of seasonal goods right up to the holiday.

An APC official said pear growth conditions, harvest volumes and the proportion of large-grade fruit were all in line with previous years, adding that supplies during the Chuseok peak season would not be disrupted.

Song then visited the Lotte Mart Anseong branch to review supply-and-demand trends for agricultural and livestock products and inspect discount support efforts on the ground.

The ministry is channeling 149 billion won into discount support for agricultural and livestock products for Chuseok. From Sept. 3 through Sept. 30, seasonal goods will be available at discounts of up to 40 percent at hypermarkets, small and mid-sized marts, eco-friendly stores, direct-sales outlets and online shopping platforms.

A separate cashback event will also run at traditional markets. From Wednesday through Sept. 20, shoppers who buy domestically produced agricultural and livestock products at 300 traditional markets nationwide will receive 30 percent of their purchase amount back in Onuri gift vouchers, up to 20,000 won per person.

"I hope that by expanding supplies of seasonal goods and holding discount events, we can lighten the burden on shoppers and boost consumption of our agricultural and livestock products, making for a bountiful Chuseok," Song said. She added that the ministry would work closely with related agencies including the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation and the Korea Forest Service to monitor supply conditions and retail inventory of key seasonal goods, and focus all efforts on reducing the public's shopping costs.