Hyundai Green Food, a comprehensive food company under the Hyundai Department Store Group, is spearheading a pilot project aimed at promoting the consumption of local agricultural products in Chungcheongnam-do. The company plans to purchase over 500 tons of agricultural products produced in the region for use in meal service operations and restaurants nationwide.
On August 25, Hyundai Green Food announced its collaboration with Chungcheongnam-do to launch the first pilot project of the 'Mutual Growth Project.' This initiative, overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, aims to enhance the value of domestic agricultural products and expand their market access through cooperation among businesses, local farmers, and municipal governments.
As part of this project, Hyundai Green Food will acquire 280 tons of Seosan onions and 200 tons of Buyeo rice, along with other agricultural products such as chestnuts, ginkgo nuts, jujubes, and glutinous rice, totaling over 500 tons. The purchased products will be utilized across the company's meal service operations and various restaurant brands.
The initiative will kick off by serving 'Lotus Leaf Rice' made from Chungcheongnam-do agricultural products to over 1,700 employees at the HD Hyundai Oilbank Daesan plant. By October, specialized menus featuring local agricultural products will be supplied to more than 650 meal service locations nationwide. New menu items developed for this project include 'Caramelized Onion Pork Stir-fry,' 'Onion Curry Rice,' and 'Onion Strips Cream Pasta.'
Additionally, around 140 in-house cafes operating within national meal service facilities will introduce 'Chestnut Miso Powder' made with local chestnuts and 'Doraji-Chickweed Tea' using bellflower and schisandra. The premium bakery brand 'VEZZLY' will offer madeleines made from Seosan rice flour.
Since last year, Hyundai Green Food has been running its own campaign, the 'Taste-Connection Project,' which focuses on purchasing local agricultural products for use in meal service menus. In 2022, the project resulted in the acquisition of 609 tons of domestic agricultural products. This year, with the addition of the Mutual Growth Project, the company anticipates that its annual purchase of domestic agricultural products will exceed double that of last year.
Lee Heon-sang, Vice President and Head of the Product Division at Hyundai Green Food, stated, "Our client companies resonate with the purpose of collaborating with local farmers and have responded positively to menus utilizing local agricultural products, enabling us to proceed with this pilot project. We aim to not only purchase local agricultural products but also engage in various activities that enhance their value, thereby establishing a sustainable ecosystem for mutual growth with farmers."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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