There is huge money in strawberry export

One ​​of the pillars of the model is the “industrialization” of cultivation in terms of quality: the control of temperature, humidity and light conditions in modern, climate-controlled greenhouses reduces weather risk and provides more predictable yields and more consistent quality. This is especially important for a product where premium positioning and export market compliance (size, stock, lack of damage) determine the profitability of the entire value chain.

The other key factor is the varietal structure and breeding: South Korean exports were based on Seolhyang and Maehyang, among others, while newer varieties (such as Geumsil or Kingsberry) were specifically designed for market needs and different size and experience profiles. The goal here is not only crop safety, but also the “standardization” of the consumer experience (aroma, sweetness, appearance).

The social embeddedness of the sector has also become a business factor: experience-based sales (farm visits, family picking) strengthen the status of the product in the domestic market and indirectly build the export brand. However, the South Korean example also shows that the technological leap does not completely replace human labor: due to the vulnerability of strawberries, the quality risks of harvesting and selection are still managed with human precision.