Korean oriental melons, known as chamoe, are now reaching Southeast Asian markets via sea transport, overcoming the expense of air freight. The Rural Development Administration (RDA) has initiated the use of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage technology, starting with shipments to Vietnam, with plans to extend to countries like Singapore.
CA technology regulates oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to slow down fruit respiration and delay ripening, enabling melons to remain fresh for 10 to 15 days during extended shipping periods. This advancement addresses previous export constraints that limited Korean melons primarily to nearby regions such as Japan and Hong Kong through air freight.
The RDA has crafted a CA-based export framework that includes pre-cooling, functional packaging, and cold storage to preserve freshness throughout transit. This method maintains spoilage rates below 1% and reduces transportation expenses by up to 60% compared to air shipping.
On May 8, in partnership with Wolhang Agricultural Cooperative in Seongju, Gyeongbuk Province, the RDA successfully sent four tons of CA-stored melons to Vietnam by sea. This shipment marks a new phase in accessing long-distance markets and represents a shift in the global strategy for Korean fruit exports.
The RDA plans to execute 10 sea shipments to Southeast Asia by July, applying CA technology to approximately 40 tons of melons, accounting for 13% of Korea's total melon exports.
Lim Jong-kook, Director of the Postharvest Management Division at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, stated, "By easing the burden of logistics costs through sea transport and maintaining quality through advanced storage technology, we will enhance the competitiveness of Korean fruit. We plan to grow this into a sustainable export model that supports market diversification and boosts farm income."
Source: Korea Post