Iksan’s Urgent Local Food Market: What You Need to Know About Supporting Farmers Today

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Iksan, in North Jeolla Province, has stepped in to help farmers left scrambling after the management contract for the Eoyang Local Food direct store ended and their sales channels were cut off.

Starting on the 16th, the city will operate an emergency \”Iksan Local Food Farmers’ Direct Market\” in the first-floor lobby of city hall for three days.

The pop-up market is designed to support farms that have struggled to ship produce normally after the store’s contract ended and its former operator occupied the site without authorization.

It also aims to give residents access to reliable local food.

On offer are the items most urgent to move right now — strawberries, cherry tomatoes, eggs, and sweet potatoes. By showcasing these goods to city hall visitors and staff, the city hopes to quickly reduce farmers’ inventory burdens and help secure real income.

The city will monitor the situation of shipping farms in real time and, if needed, set up additional markets so growers can focus on production with peace of mind.

\”We hope this market provides some relief to farmers affected by the sudden operational changes,\” a city official said, adding that the city will restore the Eoyang Local Food direct store to normal operations as soon as possible and mobilize all administrative resources to minimize farmers’ losses.

An internal audit of Iksan City last year identified operational problems at the Eoyang store, prompting the city to cancel the management contract. The audit found that some operators had used store revenue as a deposit for a cooperative-owned land purchase.

As a result, the store suspended operations after its contract with the trustee ended on the 28th of last month.

However, some cooperative members have reportedly continued to occupy and operate the store without authorization.

The city has reported those individuals to the police for illegal operation and alleged violations of the Public Property Act.