Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Hyundai Green Food have launched a public-private partnership aimed at expanding consumption of the region's agricultural products and securing new distribution channels for local food producers.
Under the arrangement, Hyundai Green Food will supply corporate cafeterias with specialized menus featuring Gangwon-grown produce at affordable prices, while the provincial government will offer discounted sales of premium Gangwon agri-food products to support public health.
The two sides held a promotional event for the "Mutual Benefit Project for All" on Thursday at the Hyundai affiliates' headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
Gangwon Province plans to use the event as a springboard to expand the use of local farm produce in corporate cafeterias and to push certified rural convergence industry products into both online and offline distribution networks, deepening its cooperation with private companies going forward.
The "Mutual Benefit Project for All" is a program run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs with the goal of boosting consumption of locally grown produce and building a foundation for cooperation between the agricultural sector and businesses.
Hyundai Green Food purchased a total of about 440 tons of Gangwon-grown produce — including 300 tons of radishes, 100 tons of potatoes and 40 tons of cabbages — and is expected to help secure stable sales channels for local farmers through large-scale consumption tied to corporate meal services.
The event featured four components: the rollout of specialized cafeteria menus using Gangwon produce, discounted sales of agri-food products through Gangwon Mall, promotion of certified rural convergence industry products, and promotion of the hometown love donation program.
Hyundai Green Food showcased specialized cafeteria menus made with Gangwon-grown produce alongside signature dishes by Chef Gang Leo, and offered employees 35 percent discounts on local agri-food products — including certified items — through a tie-up with Gangwon Mall.
The Gangwon Rural Convergence Industry Support Center promoted Gangwon agri-food through an exhibition of certified products, while also running a local specialty experience event and a promotional booth for the hometown love donation program.
"This event was a meaningful occasion to showcase specialized cafeteria menus using Gangwon produce and to highlight the quality of local agri-food by linking online sales of various processed products made from those ingredients," a provincial official said. "We will continue to expand cooperation with private companies to secure stable distribution channels for local agri-food, and work to increase farm household incomes and revitalize the regional economy."
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