ATJ
met Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives
ATJ got to know Nam Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives (later Suncheon Farmers'
Cooperatives) through Mr. Chou Han Gyu from Association of Korean Natural
Farming, whom ATJ met during its quest for agricultural technique in Asia.
Since late 1960s, rural communities in South Korea, as in Japan, have steadily
declined, while the country as a whole has enjoyed rapid economic growth.
The South Korean government promoted large-scale industrial farming, which
made it difficult for many individual farmers to continue farming. Both
Nam Shuncheon Farmers' Cooperatives and Association of Korean Natural Farming
sensed a crisis for the future of agriculture. ATJ shared this sense and
launched the kimchi trade based on the two principles.
(1) Kimchi trade is carried on in order to express solidarity with Korean
farmers.
(2) Trade shall be conducted directly with Nam Suncheon Farmers' Cooperatives.
Nam Do Kimchi
Kimchi Trade of ATJ started in 1993. Having traded various kinds of kimchi,
including matkimchi (Chinese cabbage kimchi) and kaktugi (radish cubes kimchi),
currently mustard cress kimchi, matkimchi, kaktugi and kochujan (fermented
soybean paste with hot pepper) are traded.
Later, Nam Shuncheon Farmers' Cooperatives became Suncheon Farmers' Cooperative/Nam
Do Food which mainly produces kimchi.
Pickling method and materials of Korean kimchi are different from place
to place. Jeonra Nam Do where Suncheon City is located is famous for a Kimchi
that is very tasty and hot and uses fish guts. ATJ's Nam Do Kimchi has the
authentic taste with a little adjustment for Japanese consumers. |