Blueberries are shrubs that bear small dark-blue berries. In the Rural Development Administration (RDA) farm income survey, blueberries had one of the highest incomes per 10a (about 1,000 m², roughly 300 pyeong) among open-field fruits. But you must make the soil acidic, and real harvests take 2–3 years after planting. This guide explains how to make money with blueberries using data from the RDA, Nongsaro and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).
One-line summary: In 2024 blueberry income per 10a was KRW 6.46 million (55.5% income ratio), and KRW 7.41 million in 2025. Preparing acidic soil, waiting 2–3 years, and securing buyers come first.
1. What is blueberry farming?
The plant: Likes acidic soil (pH 4.2–5.2) rich in organic matter (5%+) (Nongsaro).
Types:Northern highbush for cold areas (800–1,200 chilling hours), southern highbush (200–600 hours) and rabbiteye (400–800 hours).
Growing systems: Open field, unheated greenhouse and heated greenhouse. Greenhouses allow earlier, higher-priced harvests but cost more.
Who it suits: People preparing to move to farming, or who want direct sales or a pick-your-own farm on small land.
2. How much does it cost to start?
According to the RDA 2024 survey, the annual operating cost for 10a is KRW 5.18 million (materials, labor, etc.). Initial planting costs (seedlings, soil improvement, greenhouse, irrigation) vary by scale and method.
Item
Details
Cost
Land
Own or rent
Varies by region
Seedlings
Dormant plants 2+ years old (3 years is best), several varieties
Varies
Soil improvement
Peat moss etc. for acidity/organic matter, 10–15 cm mulch
Varies
Irrigation
Drip irrigation etc.
Varies
Greenhouse (optional)
Unheated or heated
Varies
Bird netting
Prevents bird damage
Varies
Packaging
100 g / 500 g containers, 1 kg boxes
Varies
Annual operating cost
Per 10a (2024 survey)
KRW 5.18 million
Government support: The return-to-farm startup loan offers up to KRW 300 million per household (2.0% a year, 5-year grace, 10-year repayment), plus up to KRW 75 million for housing. Young farmers aged 18 to under 40 with 3 years or less of independent farming can apply for settlement support (up to KRW 1.1 million a month for up to 3 years). Conditions change yearly, so always check before applying.
3. What you need
Soil test: Get a soil test at your city/county Agricultural Technology Center to check pH and organic matter.
Spacing: Northern highbush 1.5–2.0 m between plants and 2.5–3.0 m between rows; rabbiteye 2.0–2.5 m and 3.0–3.5 m. Dig holes 50–60 cm wide and 30–40 cm deep (Nongsaro).
Several varieties: Blueberries set fruit better with pollen from another variety, so plant two or more. Honeybees are often used for pollination.
First 1–2 years: Remove flowers so the plants grow instead of fruiting.
Diseases: Stem blight, gray mold and anthracnose can occur. Take training at the Agricultural Technology Center.
Return-to-farm training: Required for the startup loan.
4. How much can you earn?
RDA farm income survey figures (per 10a):
Year
Gross revenue
Operating cost
Income
Notes
2024 crop
KRW 11.64 million
KRW 5.18 million
KRW 6.46 million
Yield 491 kg, KRW 23,651/kg, income ratio 55.5%
2025 crop
–
–
KRW 7.41 million
Announced Sept 2026
In the same survey, 2024 income was KRW 5.11 million for apples, KRW 4.32 million for pears and KRW 2.54 million for peaches. Blueberries ranked high among open-field fruits.
In the 2025 survey, average income across all crops fell 7.7% while operating costs rose 9.2%. Costs are rising, so careful cost control matters.
These are averages. Harvests are small in the first 2–3 years, and results vary greatly with weather, variety and sales channel.
5. Where and how to sell
Harvest timing: Heated greenhouse from mid-to-late April, unheated greenhouse from mid-to-late May, open field from mid-to-late June (Nongsaro). Wonye Sanup Shinmun reported that Korean blueberries in March–April traded at 2–3 times the price of imports.
Wholesale markets: Ship to public wholesale markets such as Garak in 1 kg boxes (100 g × 10).
Local food stores / NH Hanaro Mart: Ask your local cooperative.
Direct sales: Sell to regular customers by text and parcel delivery. Blueberries soften easily, so packaging and cold storage matter.
Pick-your-own farm: Near cities you can host family visitors.
Processing: Frozen blueberries, jam, etc. Processed foods may need a food business report; check with your city/county office.
6. Step-by-step start
Step 1 – Learn: Take courses at the Return-to-Farm Center and Agricultural Technology Center, and work on a blueberry farm to learn the yearly cycle.
Step 2 – Land and soil: Choose land, test the soil and make it acidic with peat moss etc. Pick varieties suited to your local winter.
Step 3 – Plant and wait: Plant 2–3-year-old seedlings during dormancy (late autumn to early spring) and remove flowers for 1–2 years.
Step 4 – Build buyers first: Before the first harvest, line up local food stores, direct customers and pick-your-own visitors.
Step 5 – Insurance and records: Ask your local cooperative whether crop disaster insurance is available, and record costs and yields.
8. Watch out for these real damage cases
In May 2010 Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service issued a warning about blueberry seedling investment schemes. One company sold 338 five-year-old blueberry seedlings for KRW 14.8 million, promising KRW 110 million (744%) over 18 years — suspected of being illegal fund-raising. Be careful of offers like “just buy the trees, we manage them and pay you monthly or quarterly returns.” Blueberry income comes from managing the land and plants yourself. Buy seedlings from trustworthy nurseries and check the variety name and age.
Can blueberry farming make money in the first year?
Unlikely. Nongsaro advises not letting plants fruit for 1–2 years after planting. Expect real income from around year 3.
Can I grow them in my region?
Northern highbush suits cold-winter areas; southern highbush or rabbiteye suit the warm south. Ask your local Agricultural Technology Center.
Haven't blueberry prices dropped?
As imports rose under FTAs, blueberries became an FTA closure-support item in 2016, and the growing area fell from 4,270 ha (2016) to 3,326 ha (2022). Still, the 2024–2025 surveys showed relatively high income. Timing and sales channels matter.
Is there disaster insurance?
Crop disaster insurance has a blueberry item, but under the 2026 guidelines it is limited to certain cities/counties. Check availability and timing with your local cooperative.
Can I start on small land?
Even 10a averaged about KRW 6.46 million income (2024). On small land, raise your price per kg through direct sales and pick-your-own.
Last updated: October 30, 2026. Based on official sources; rules and prices can change.
In Korea, strawberries are grown in plastic greenhouses (protected cultivation) over winter and sold from November to the following May. In a Rural Development Administration (RDA) survey, hydroponic strawberries earned about 15 million won of income per 10a (1,000㎡, about 300 pyeong), placing them near the top of greenhouse crops (2024 crop). But building greenhouses costs a lot, and disease while raising seedlings in summer (especially anthracnose) can ruin a whole season. This guide explains how to make money with strawberry farming in plain language, based on the RDA, the Korea Rural Economic Institute (including Statistics Korea data), the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the government’s Easy-to-Find Law Information service.
One-line summary: The way to make money with strawberry farming is to “raise strong seedlings in summer and get your first berries out in November–December, when prices are highest.” In 2024, average income per 10a was about 10.69 million won for soil-grown (togyeong) and about 15 million won for hydroponic (raised-bed etc.) strawberries, but operating costs were also 15.62–20.78 million won. People returning to farming can apply for start-up funds (up to 300 million won per household, as a loan), and running a pick-your-own experience farm widens your sales channels.
1. What is greenhouse strawberry farming?
Most strawberries eaten in Korea in winter are forcing-culture (chokseong) strawberries. Seedlings are planted in the greenhouse in early-to-mid September, the greenhouse is closed up for warmth in mid-to-late October before it gets cold, and the first harvest comes in November–December (RDA).
There are two main growing methods.
Soil culture (togyeong): plants go into raised rows in the greenhouse soil. Facility costs are lower, but you work bent over.
Raised-bed culture (goseol, hydroponic): plants grow in substrate on waist-high benches (about 1 m) and are fed nutrient solution (fertilizer dissolved in water). The work is easier and yields are higher, but facilities cost more.
National cultivation area was 5,612 ha in 2023/24 and 5,691 ha in 2024/25 (survey figure). Production is about 150,000–157,000 tonnes (KREI Agricultural Outlook Center, based on Statistics Korea data).
54% of the area is in the Yeongnam region (2024), and Seolhyang makes up about 81% of varieties. Varieties such as Geumsil and Kingsberry are growing (Agricultural Outlook Center).
The institute projects strawberry area will grow slowly to 6,382 ha by 2034. This is only a forecast.
2. How much does it cost to start?
There is no official average start-up cost. It varies a lot depending on whether you buy or rent land and whether a greenhouse already exists. Below are figures from official sources.
Item
Amount (official source)
Notes
Single-span greenhouse construction
about 310,000 won per 3.3㎡ (pyeong)
For 10a (about 303 pyeong) that is about 94 million won (RDA, Sept 2025)
Multi-span greenhouse construction
about 460,000 won per 3.3㎡ (pyeong)
For 10a about 139 million won; about 48% more than single-span
Raised beds, nutrient dosing unit, heater
Varies
Depends on supplier quotes and local-government support programs
Purchase and rent prices differ by region; also check the Farmland Bank for leases
The RDA explained that strawberry output is about 10 kg per pyeong in single-span and 11 kg in multi-span greenhouses, not a big difference, so several single-span houses can be more profitable for young and new farmers starting out. More than 67% of strawberry farms are small or mid-sized, under 0.5 ha.
It is also labor-heavy. One survey puts hydroponic greenhouse strawberries at about 699 hours of labor per 10a per crop (2023 Agricultural and Livestock Income Data Book, cited by the Agricultural Outlook Center).
When you are short of money: support for returning and young farmers
Return-to-farming start-up fund: a loan of up to 300 million won per household, fixed rate 2.0% a year (or variable), repaid over 10 years after a 5-year grace period. The return-to-farming housing fund is up to 75 million won per household. You must complete at least 8 hours of farming education to apply, and under 100 hours gets the lowest grade in the evaluation (2026 implementation guidelines; Easy-to-Find Law Information and Greendaero).
Young farmer settlement support: young people aged 18 to under 40 with 3 years or less of independent farming receive up to 1.1 million won a month for up to 3 years, linked with successor-farmer loans, priority farmland leasing and more (MAFRA, 2026 recruitment).
Loans are debt. The actual amount can be lower after credit and collateral review.
3. What you need and the growing cycle (seedlings are half the job)
Summer care matters so much that strawberry farming is often called half seedling (nursery) farming. In plain words, RDA guidance says:
Plant mother plants by late March: choose healthy, disease-free mother plants.
Root daughter plants in May–June: daughter plants at the tips of runners from the mother plants are rooted into pots.
Summer care in July–August: install shade cloth of about 55% and ventilate to lower greenhouse temperatures. Water neither too much nor too little.
Transplant in early-to-mid September: move plants into the main greenhouse after flower buds have formed.
Close up for warmth in mid-to-late October, first harvest in November–December: keep picking until spring. Pollination is done with bees and similar.
Choosing a variety
Seolhyang: high-yielding and fairly disease-resistant, so it is the most widely planted (about 81% of area). Plenty of technical material and experienced farmers make it easy to learn.
Geumsil: replacing the former export variety (Maehyang); its share of area grew from 1.2% in 2019/20 to 8.8% in 2024/25. It can also be sold domestically.
Kingsberry and other new varieties: popular and attracting more growers, but they can be harder to grow, so ask your local agricultural technology center whether they suit your area (Agricultural Outlook Center).
Anthracnose basics
When: hot and humid conditions of 25–30℃, especially the rainy season (late June to late August) and from mid-September to October after transplanting.
Symptoms: runners or leaf stalks turn black as if water-soaked, the crown (where root meets stem) browns from the outside in, and eventually the whole plant wilts and dies.
Prevention: raise seedlings under rain shelters, water only at the roots with drip irrigation so leaves stay dry, use healthy mother plants, remove sick plants and leaves at once, disinfect beds, pins and scissors, and avoid excess nitrogen and potassium.
Chemicals: on days you remove leaves or cut runners, protect the wounds with a registered product. Always check on the Pesticide Safety Information System (psis.rda.go.kr) that a product is registered for strawberries and follow the label rules.
In a year when heat followed a late rainy spell, 10–43% of plants died depending on the region (RDA).
The year at a glance (forcing culture)
When
What to do
Watch out for
March
Plant mother plants
Choose disease-free stock
May–June
Root daughter plants (guide runners)
Disinfect pins and scissors
July–August
Summer nursery
Heat and rain → anthracnose, Fusarium wilt
Early–mid September
Transplant into main greenhouse
Planting too early risks heat damage
Mid–late October
Start keeping the greenhouse warm
Night temperature control
November–December
First harvest and shipping
Highest prices of the year
January–May
Keep harvesting, run experiences
Prices fall sharply after March
Common beginner mistakes
Buying seedlings only because they are cheap: a few sick plants can spread disease to the whole greenhouse. Ask where seedlings were raised and check root and crown color on arrival.
Watering from above: wet leaves spread anthracnose. Use drip irrigation at the roots.
Producing most when prices are low: for the same amount picked, November–December prices were about 4 times April–May prices (70,632 won vs 17,265 won in 2024/25). Timing the first harvest drives income.
Harvesting without a buyer: strawberries don’t keep. Before harvest, decide whether you ship to a wholesale market, a growers’ group or direct buyers, and which boxes you will use.
Using any pesticide: products not registered for strawberries can leave residues that stop you selling. Always check registration and safe-use rules (how many days before harvest it may be used).
4. How much can you earn?
These are RDA 2024 farm income survey figures (2024 crop, average per 10a). Income = gross revenue − operating cost; family labor is not deducted.
Type
Yield
Price received
Gross revenue
Operating cost
Income
Strawberry (soil)
2,893 kg
9,094 won/kg
26.31 million won
15.62 million won
10.69 million won
Strawberry (hydroponic)
3,292 kg
10,868 won/kg
35.78 million won
20.78 million won
15.00 million won
Worked example: if you farm 3,000㎡ (about 900 pyeong) of hydroponic greenhouse at the average, income is 15 million × 3 = about 45 million won. You still need to account for loan interest and greenhouse depreciation, so what you actually keep varies by person. This is not a promised income.
Years differ a lot. Hydroponic strawberry income in the 2023 crop was 14.67 million won per 10a, and in 2023/24 heavy summer rain weakened seedlings so yield per 10a fell 6.2% from the year before (Korea Agriculture & Fisheries News, Agricultural Outlook Center).
When you sell changes how much you make
The Garak Market wholesale price for 2 kg of top-grade strawberries in 2024/25 fell sharply: 70,632 won in November → 42,875 won in December → 19,341 won in March → 17,265 won in May (Agricultural Outlook Center, Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation data).
In 2025/26 it was 54,353 won in November, 40,129 won in December and 35,964 won in January 2026.
So more farms are trying to harvest earlier, and the share shipped in November–December rose 4 percentage points over the last three years (2022–2024). On the other hand, transplanting too early risks rain and heat damage.
Over the whole season, the 2023/24 Garak Market strawberry price averaged 9,539 won/kg, 7.5% above the previous year (8,874 won). Prices rise when production falls and drop when supply is plentiful (Agricultural Outlook Center).
You can check daily prices free on aT’s KAMIS agricultural price service (kamis.or.kr) and Garak Market quotes.
5. Where and how do you sell?
Wholesale markets: shipping to a wholesale market such as Garak lets you sell large volumes at once, but the price is set by that day’s auction. Transport and commission fees apply.
Growers’ groups and cooperative (Nonghyup) shipping: sorting and shipping together with local farms makes logistics easier than going alone.
Local food stores and online direct sales: you set the price, but you handle packaging, delivery and customer contact yourself.
Supplying cafés and bakeries: strawberry products are popular, and demand from processors, bakeries and cafés helped frozen strawberry imports rise 31.3% in 2024 (Agricultural Outlook Center). That is also an opportunity to find buyers for fresh Korean berries.
Export: fresh strawberry exports were 4,866 tonnes in 2025, going to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and others. Export requires matching variety (e.g., Geumsil) and grading standards, so many farms work through export complexes or companies.
Selling through a strawberry experience (pick-your-own) farm
Strawberry-picking experiences, where visitors pick, eat and take berries home, cut harvesting, packing and transport work while earning a higher price, and reports say they are growing fast near the Seoul metropolitan area (Korea Agriculture & Fisheries News, 2024).
One raised-bed farm near Seoul was reported to charge 18,000 won per person (pick and eat, then take home 500 g) and to have had more than 20,000 visitors in a year, also offering strawberry waffle and cake making. This is one farm’s case, and results vary by farm.
Raised beds put berries at waist height, which is convenient for children and families. Many farms run experiences mainly from January to June (RDA Green Magazine).
The RDA certifies farms that run curriculum-linked hands-on learning as Rural Education Farms, which helps when hosting groups such as daycares and schools.
Ask your city/county office and agricultural technology center first about visitor safety (slips, parking), insurance, and any registration needed to make and sell food such as jam or cake.
6. Getting started, step 1-2-3
Learn and check: get counseling from the Return-to-Farm/Rural Center (Greendaero, greendaero.go.kr) and take farming education (100+ hours recommended if you are considering the start-up fund). Take strawberry courses at your local agricultural technology center and help out on an experienced farm to live through one full cycle (nursery → transplanting → harvest).
Plan to start small: decide on farmland (including leasing) and greenhouse size, and choose soil or raised-bed. Using the income data above, calculate “15.62–20.78 million won operating cost per 10a + greenhouse cost + loan interest.” Check with your city/county when the return-to-farming start-up fund or young farmer settlement support takes applications (usually first and second half of the year).
Be careful with seedlings and line up buyers early: in the first year, buy seedlings from a trustworthy source or raise them yourself under rain shelters. Follow an anthracnose prevention calendar, and before the first harvest decide whether you will sell through a wholesale market, growers’ group, direct sales or experiences.
8. Watch out for these reported damage cases
In 2026, Nongmin Shinmun reported farmers who trusted promises of “guaranteed income of 2.5 million won a month,” took out loans of 100–200+ million won backed by the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Fund to install container-type smart farms, and were left with only debt after facility defects and the company’s refusal to buy their harvest (mushroom-growing cases in South and North Chungcheong). Strawberry smart farms and raised-bed systems also cost a lot, so don’t sign a contract just because of claims like “guaranteed income,” “we buy everything you grow,” or “the government loan will cover it all.” Check the company’s construction record, after-sales service and contract terms carefully, and consult your city/county agricultural technology center or the Return-to-Farm/Rural Center before signing. Also, in 2024 young farmers at the Gimje Smart Farm Innovation Valley sought compensation for roof leaks in leased smart farms, and MAFRA pledged to find the cause and arrange compensation. Always inspect for defects when you take over a facility.
I'm a beginner. Is raised-bed or soil culture better?
On 2024 averages, hydroponic (raised-bed etc.) income was about 15 million won per 10a, higher than soil (about 10.69 million won), but operating and facility costs are also higher. It varies with your money, health and experience-farm plans. Raised beds are easier if you have a weak back or want to run picking experiences.
When in the year is it busy?
Almost all year. Mother plants in March, nursery in May–August, transplanting in September, harvest from November to the next May. Know before you start that the off-season is short.
Where can I check strawberry prices?
Daily on aT's KAMIS and Garak Market quotes. The KREI Agricultural Outlook Center publishes monthly strawberry outlooks with shipping and price forecasts.
Does the government just give money if I move to farm?
No. The return-to-farming start-up fund (up to 300 million won) and housing fund (up to 75 million won) are **loans you must repay**. The young farmer settlement payment (up to 1.1 million won a month, up to 3 years) has age and income conditions and a selection review.
What do I do if anthracnose appears?
Pull sick plants right away and take them out of the greenhouse, disinfect tools, and treat with products registered for strawberries. The best approach is prevention (rain-shelter nursery, drip irrigation, healthy mother plants). Your local agricultural technology center can help diagnose it.
Last updated: October 30, 2026. Based on official sources; rules and prices can change.
Shiitake are grown by putting mushroom spawn into oak logs or oak-sawdust blocks. You can grow them in a forest or greenhouse and sell them fresh or dried. This guide explains how to make money with shiitake farming in Korea, based on the National Forestry Cooperative Federation’s Forest Mushroom Research Center and the Korea Forest Service.
In one line: log cultivation takes 6 to 18 months to the first mushrooms and is labor-heavy; sawdust cultivation can fruit after 3 to 4 months of incubation but needs costly facilities (Forest Mushroom Research Center).
1. Two ways to grow
Log cultivation
Sawdust cultivation
Material
Oak logs, 9–12 cm across, 1–1.2 m long
Oak sawdust + rice bran (about 3:1 by weight), ~65% moisture
Time to first harvest
At least 6 months (warm strains) to 18 months (cold strains)
After 3–4 months of incubation
Pros
Low facility burden, harvests over several years
Faster payback, blocks under 3 kg
Cons
Heavy labor, rising log prices
Sensitive to conditions, high facility investment
Strains are grouped as warm, medium and cold types. Cold types go mostly to dried shiitake; warm and medium types mostly to fresh.
2. Start-up cost
Costs vary widely by method and scale. The Korea Forest Service publishes official production costs for shiitake (outdoor logs, greenhouse logs, sawdust) every year in its Forest Products Production Cost Survey; check the latest report on kfss.forest.go.kr before you start. Items: logs or blocks, spawn, shade net, watering, a shaded site or greenhouse, heating/cooling and sterilizing equipment if making your own blocks, harvest baskets, a dryer and packaging.
3. Log cultivation steps
Fell oaks in early to mid November when leaves are 70–80% colored.
Dry for 1–4 months, then cut into lengths.
Drill holes (for plug spawn: 1.2–1.3 cm wide, 2.4 cm deep, 10–15 cm apart along, 3–5 cm across).
Inoculate from late February to mid April.
Incubate in shade: temporary stacking, then main stacking.
Stand the logs up from October to December or the next spring, by strain.
Fruiting, harvest, sorting and shipping.
About 100 logs of 10 cm × 120 cm count as 1 cubic meter.
4. Buying spawn
Sold by the forestry cooperative federation and private spawn labs; log spawn only from December to April, sawdust spawn only in its seasons.
Reserve your strain early.
Inoculate right away; otherwise store at about 3°C (or below 10°C, 60–70% humidity).
Check for discolored patches (contamination) on arrival.
Origin labeling: since January 1, 2021, shiitake grown from imported inoculated blocks must be labeled with the country where the longest growing period (from inoculation to harvest) took place. It is “Korean” only if the time grown in Korea was longer.
Income varies by strain, fresh vs dried, timing and grade. Check the Korea Forest Service’s annual income and production-cost surveys for current figures.
6. Step-by-step start
Take forestry or mushroom courses and visit working farms.
Run a one-year trial with a few hundred logs or a small batch of blocks; log time and yield.
Line up sales channels first.
Decide strain, method and scale from your records.
Ask local agencies about farm-business registration.
Watch out for these problems
Labeling shiitake from imported blocks as Korean can be punished as an origin-labeling violation; the rule caused enough confusion that South Chungcheong’s provincial council called for changes. Also beware of pitches that promise big monthly income if you buy their blocks or facilities. Check the company and terms with the forestry cooperative or local forestry office first, and look at real farm records.
