Visiting Nenia’s Production Sites — Interview with the Producer of Organic Strawberry Jam 

Kwon Du-bo, CEO of Ecological Life Farm

The sight of morning dew settled on strawberry blossoms was more dazzling and purer than pearls. The moment I stepped into the greenhouse, I couldn’t help but exclaim in delight. “Oh my, the strawberry flowers are so beautiful! Wow, the strawberries are growing so plump!” The words of admiration just poured out. The strawberry leaves were so fresh and thick that I thought, this is exactly when you use the word “lively.” And yet, even brighter and warmer than the strawberries themselves was the smile of the person welcoming me — Ms. Kwon Du-bo, CEO of Ecological Life Farm.

▲ Kwon Du-bo, CEO of Ecological Life Farm (Photo = Nenia)

Kwon Du-bo returned to farming life in Hapcheon in 2002. She had lived in Busan and moved to the countryside without any plans of farming—she simply wanted a rural lifestyle. But once she settled there, she realized she needed to learn farming, and if so, she might as well learn what others in the area were doing. At that time, seven young households in the village were cultivating strawberries. By following their lead, she began learning strawberry farming, starting out with just two greenhouses.

The secret behind the robustness and vitality of the strawberries she grows lies in what she calls a “seasonal farming method.” While most farmers begin harvesting strawberries at the end of November, Kwon doesn’t start until the end of February. In other words, she lets them grow more slowly. This is one of the principles she consistently upholds. The direction she set for herself was influenced, in part, by her involvement in the local food movement during her time living in Busan.

Letting Them Sleep Through Winter, Blooming Slowly

A Greenhouse Without Extra Heating

CEO Kwon plants her strawberry seedlings a month later than most farmers. Typically, seedlings are planted at the end of August, with strawberries harvested starting in November. At Ecological Life Farm, however, seedlings are planted in early October, and even in November, when the weather turns cold, she keeps the greenhouse open so the strawberries can fall into a kind of winter sleep. Around December 10, the seedlings gradually awaken from dormancy and begin growing again, flowering by late January. Even in the cold, no additional heating is used inside the greenhouse. Strawberry harvesting begins as early as the end of February, or as late as the end of March, and concludes by May.

▲ “Is it the right time to pick strawberries that have ripened this much?” — CEO Kwon explains to her staff that they should wait one more day before harvesting (Photo = Nenia).

The strawberries grown at Ecological Life Farm are precious, as they can only be harvested for three months of the year. The variety is Yukbo, known for its firm flesh, deep red color, pleasant texture, and sweet-and-tart flavor. In Korea, the Seolhyang variety was successfully localized in 2005; before that, the domestic market was dominated by Yukbo and Janghee (Akihime), both originally from Japan. Yukbo strawberries begin their first harvest in March, just as the quality of Seolhyang strawberries starts to decline. The Yukbo strawberries grown by CEO Kwon tend to show a slightly darker, crimson-red hue compared to other varieties. She explains, “Whether a strawberry appears bright red or slightly dark crimson depends on the density of the fruit’s tissue. That’s a matter of cultivation method, not a difference in variety.”

A Farm Alive with Organic Matter

Controlling Pests with Natural Predators, Not Pesticides

Aphids are a real nuisance. If left untreated—even with eco-friendly sprays—they can ruin an entire crop. At Ecological Life Farm, pests are controlled by releasing natural predators, and when fungal problems appear, sulfur fumigation is used. But because the crops are raised to strengthen themselves naturally, even the sulfur treatment is kept to a minimum.

▲ CEO Kwon Du-bo of Ecological Life Farm uses natural predators to protect crops from pests. (Photo = Nenia)

▲ At Ecological Life Farm, natural predators are used as the first line of defense against pests. If problems persist, sulfur fumigation is applied as a secondary measure. (Photo = Nenia)

The main pests that affect strawberries are aphids and spider mites. In the middle of the strawberry field, barley is planted to foster Aphidius colemani wasps, which are natural enemies of aphids. Once the natural predators awaken, they lay their eggs inside the aphids, using them as hosts and eventually killing them. CEO Kwon explains, “It actually takes less effort than spraying chemicals—organic farming is easier.” I also met another farmer in the same village who grows strawberries. At first, he said he didn’t believe Kwon’s words. But after working here, he realized they were true—and he found organic farming fascinating.

Recently, in strawberry farming, “smart farms” and so-called hydroponics, more precisely “nutrient-solution cultivation,” have become quite common. Unlike simply growing in water, hydroponics uses nutrient-rich solutions. In conventional farming, applying large amounts of fertilizer causes crops to grow larger and increases strawberry yields. At Ecological Life Farm, however, only about one-tenth the amount of compost typically used on other farms is applied. As a result, the strawberries grow stronger on their own, with a richer fragrance, denser flesh, and a unique texture.

From Farming to Sales and Promotion

Kwon not only has to farm but also secure distribution channels and handle all the related tasks that come with selling. “It would be nice to focus only on farming,” she says, “but I also have to go out and do sales.” To supply strawberries for school lunches, she wrote letters and sent promotional materials to nutritionists and school meal support centers in the Busan area. Though the price was high, one eco-friendly school meal support center reached out after learning about her farming methods. For three years, she supplied strawberries to the center and said she was truly happy knowing that children were eating good-quality strawberries.

Kwon expressed special gratitude to Nenia. Being able to supply strawberries for Nenia’s jams helped stabilize her sales to some extent. Nenia produces organic strawberry jam in 300g, 600g, and 1kg sizes, which are distributed to school lunches as well as to general consumers.

▲ Ecological Life Farm makes strawberry jam only from fully ripened strawberries. CEO Kwon Du-bo notes that strawberries harvested in May are especially sweet, making them the best for jam. (Photo = Nenia)

“What it means for us to practice eco-friendly organic farming is not simply about producing healthy food—it’s about making the soil itself healthy. Managing the land well is actually the most important thing. If the soil is healthy, the crops will be healthy. We must pass down healthy soil intact to future generations. That way, we are not leaving them with a debt.”

This is the core of Kwon’s philosophy. Revive the soil, and crops will naturally grow strong. She recalls that it took four years, starting from bare ground, for her fields to reach the point where crops could truly flourish.

Nenia Organic Strawberry Jam is Special

Jam Made from the Sweet Strawberries of May

The flavor of strawberries changes with the season of harvest. The very first strawberries ripen in the cold, and because the temperature is low, they ripen slowly and develop more sweetness. However, with weaker sunlight, their aroma and tartness are less pronounced.

▲ Nenia Organic Strawberry Jam made with strawberries from Ecological Life Farm

By late March, when there is enough sunlight, the strawberries begin to taste better. CEO Kwon explains: “When I say a strawberry is delicious, I don’t just mean it’s sweet. Flavor comes from the right balance of aroma, sweetness, and sourness—and the texture matters too. That’s what makes a truly delicious strawberry.” She considers strawberries harvested between late March and late April to be the best. These are seasonal strawberries grown with just a little extra warmth in the greenhouse but still imbued with the vitality of the open field.

By May, as the weather turns hot, strawberries don’t grow as large. But Kwon says, “May strawberries are smaller, but their flavor is concentrated, with a very intense sweet-and-tart taste. That’s why jam made from May strawberries is especially delicious.” At Ecological Life Farm, the May harvest is frozen and then made into jam as needed, using automated equipment. With the careful touch of CEO Kwon, these healthy organic strawberries of May are transformed into the especially flavorful Nenia Organic Strawberry Jam.

At Ecological Life Farm, the harvest begins after sunrise. Some farms pick strawberries at dawn for fear they might soften, but here the strawberries are so firm that even when harvested after the sun comes up, they remain in good condition. The pride on CEO Kwon’s face showed just how well she has cultivated them. And rightly so—there is every reason to be proud of Nenia’s Organic Strawberry Jam, made from the strawberries of Ecological Life Farm.

Nenia Web Magazine Editorial Team