Dangjin sweet pumpkins are capturing the Japanese market with the date of harvesting advanced by two weeks.
According to the Dangjin Agricultural Technology Service Center (DATSC), forty tons of sweet pumpkins are going to be exported in this year by the Society for Dangjin Sweet Pumpkin Research (SDSPR). They harvested its sweet pumpkin late last month and are exporting to Japan this month, unlike other farms that shipped two weeks later than the SDSPR.
SDSPR is an association of sweet pumpkin producers in Dangjin established in 2001. It has 49 farms and its members produce 400 tons of sweet pumpkin every year 10% of which is exported.
Well grown sweet pumpkins are about 1.5~2kg each. After harvesting pumpkins need to be stored for 15~20 days to be sweeter up to 12~13 brix. Dangjin sweet pumpkins have been exported to Japan since 2003 and have recognized on the market there for their good quality. They obtained ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification 9001 in 2007 since which time the SDSPR’s sweet pumpkins are the most expensive in Korea.
Seventeen tons were exported to German and Japan in total.
One Sweet Pumpkin for Each Branch
SDSPR keeps with diligence its own principle ‘One Sweet Pumpkin for One Branch,’ which means each sweet pumpkin is grow singularly by each branch of the organization that ensures the quality of its produce, including the best amount of sugar concentration in each individual sweet pumpkin. The growing pumpkins are hung from props in the air that makes for a beautiful round shape. Such a method of cultivation needs a lot of work by hand and inevitably it reduces the cultivation space thus limiting the amount of pumpkin that can be grown. Still, conscientious application of the ‘One Sweet Pumpkin for One Branch’ principle does not result in less production compared with other farms.
The way to harvest pumpkins two weeks earlier with the right amount of sweetness is simply by starting planting two weeks earlier in about the beginning of April - and not inside a greenhouse. The most important factor to consider is to avoid frost damage; thus technology is used that raises the temperature of the ground and so the plants. After initial growth in the ground the plants are hung in the air - one only to each branch - using tunnel-shaped props to bear their fruits. Agricultural chemicals are not needed because earlier cultivation avoids the monsoon season. The consequence of this method of early cultivation is that the pumpkins are expensive because they are harvested two weeks early and have no competition.
Cho In-seon, President of SDSPR, said: “We are going to try to obtain an organic certificate because SDSPR’s products are healthier and no agricultural chemicals used.”
Strict Quality Control
SDSPR tests the products of its members’ farms and if any is found to be deficient according to the organization’s standards it is forbidden to be sold, even on the domestic market. Strict quality control by the SDSPR of its members’ pumpkins ensures recognition of their reliable and excellent quality. Since the organization obtained ISO 9001 in 2007, each pumpkin has this standard attached.
Kim Suk-kwang, a manager of Vegetables and Flowers Team at DATSC, said proudly: “SDSPR’s products are the best in Korea; the quality is next to perfect. We are going to increase the producing area of sweet pumpkins and spread the use of our early harvesting technology equipment.”