Korea EU mushroom export on the rise
One major company, Greenpeace Green Co. (Greenco.) is exporting king oyster mushrooms to many European countries through its local joint venture, Green Mushroom Farm (GMF) in the Netherlands, according to a company spokesman.
King oyster mushrooms, which are known as big oyster mushroom or delicious pine mushroom in Korea, are a recognized food ideal for dieting with low calories, rich cellulose and moisture, he said.
GMF is distributing Korean king oyster mushrooms to European consumers through its major clients, including Mitrofresh and Frihol in the Netherlands and Germany, Special Fruit in Switzerland, Vinas and Butet in France, Smithymushroom in Britain, and Olmo in Spain.
"Korea has a strong hold on the European mushroom market, with their king oyster mushroom and enoki mushroom. Meanwhile, China exports a large quantity of shiitake mushrooms and shimeji mushrooms," he explained.
Using vigorously active overseas marketing activities, Greenco. exported $12 million worth of mushrooms to Europe in 2011 and expanded its export figure to $14 million in 2012, accounting for a 16.7 percent increase.
Korea's exports of king oyster mushrooms to the Netherlands increased from 344 tons in 2007 to 586 tons in 2008, but regressed to 418 tons in 2009 and 369 tons in 2010. However exports began to show signs of rising again in 2011, rising again to 450 tons.
The nation's exports of enoki mushrooms to the Netherlands have been on a steady rise from 83 tons in 2007 to 123 tons in 2008, 96 tons in 2009, 113 tons in 2010 and further escalating to 150 tons in 2011, the highest total to date.
Meanwhile, exports of shimeji mushrooms rose from 44 tons in 2007 to 81 tons in 2008, but slipped to 40 tons in 2008. However, it regained strength to reach 51 tons in 2010 and set a record high with 100 tons in 2011.
Thanks to the effectuation of the Korea-EU FTA, which went into effect on July 1, 2011, the tariff rate on mushrooms was reduced from 6.4 percent to zero percent, making exports far easier and affordable.
Greenco. is now collecting fresh mushrooms from its own mushroom farm and some 10 cooperative mushroom farms for shipment to foreign countries.
Last May, Greenco. held mushroom promotion events in many European regions through its Netherlands-based GMF. In the latter half of this year, it plans to host such promotion events in Lido and Edeka supermarkets in Germany and Tesco in Britain with the cooperation of Smithy Mushroom.
To date, aT is operating overseas centers in 11 regions located in seven countries; Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and the Netherlands.
It plans to expand this figure to 20 regions in 12 countries in the near future. Overseas centers are implementing various measures to assist Korea’s agricultural exporters.
Source: koreittimes.com
