Studies on the production and marketing of apple of Kyungpook region and strategies of its improvement

경북지역의 사과생산 및 유통에 관한 연구

Apple is most favorable fruit in Korea, and apple farmland has been increased before and after the agreements of Uruguay Round and apple is considered as one of strategic agricultural products. Especially expansion of apple farmland is concentrated in Kyungpook region because of the suitable climate and its market share is about 70 percents in 1992. The marketing channels of apples of Kyungpook region are widely classified by merchant, agricultural or horticultural co-op and large scale farmer's. Among them market share of merchant's occupy over 65 percent. In marketing margins, commercial profit is higher than cost in total marketing margins and, assembler and retailer's margin is not less than wholesaler's. The fluctuation of the price of apple is high in year. The marketing problems of apples are several, first, complex marketing channels, secondly, the high percentage of market share by growing district assembler, thirdly, low rate of package and quality standardization, finally, concentration of shipment of apple because of the shortage of apple processing, storage and marketing facilities, of newly produced apples. In conclusion, to increase apple grower's income with the stabilization of supply and quality upgrade, the improvement measures of marketing system are as follows, first, government level's support in marketing facilities and mechanism, secondly, the increment of supply by grower's cooperatives, thirdly, the establishment of a serious of marketing system to increase the efficiency, fourthly, the establishment of cold-chain system and quality standardization of apple, finally, production of various kinds of apple processing goods.