Read a Korean grower’s success story – Min Su Park, lead of greenhouse operations at Haedamto.
This is the story of a family that has been growing all sorts of peppers over the past decades. It all started in the green heart of Southwest Korea. This region, known for its intensive and sustainable greenhouse farming, is home to Haedamto – a family-owned company built from the ground up by Mr. Min Su Park. In recent years, they have invested in their own propagation practices. For Haedamto, doing so and finding the right knowledge partners are of utmost importance.
Haedamto cultivates bell peppers, mini peppers, and sweet point peppers. This diverse array of produce caters to the high demands of Korean and Japanese consumers.
A Family Business Rooted in Agriculture
Min Su Park, a former army captain, now leads greenhouse operations at Haedamto. At 40, he carries forward the legacy of his father. “I began working alongside my father 13 years ago,” Park recalls, “and since then, I’ve been dedicated to leading our operations.”
Established by Park’s father in 1990 in the southernmost part of South Korea, the original 35-year-old greenhouse – still operational today – initially grew tomatoes and cucumbers. In 2016, the family expanded their facility to cover 11.6 hectares. Haedamto is a true family business, involving Park’s father, mother, sister, and brother-in-law.
From Local to International
Haedamto started their business in the Korean market, producing for nearly 52 million Koreans who consume 2.9 kg of pepper per person every year. “The Korean market spans approximately 750 hectares,” Park explains, “with about 15% of that being large-scale greenhouses like ours. The rest are smaller, simpler greenhouses.”
Haedamto’s produce now reaches both local and international markets. “We sell our pepper partly through the trading cooperative Nongsang,” Park notes. “Currently, 10% of our produce is exported to Japan, while the rest is sold within South Korea.” This distribution strategy has evolved over the years as domestic demand has surged, leading to higher local prices. Since October 2024, Haedamto has been directly exporting to the Japanese market.
Strengths Sourced from Propagation
“A strong start of the crop is the baseline for a successful growing season. Mr. Haedamto propagates his young plants himself and approaches this with great precision and professionalism,” says Mr. Kangmo Lee, Crop Advisor at Grodan.
Good-quality propagation is not easy, though. One of the reasons why Grodan’s technical service is valued is besides the quality of the stone wool.
Additionally, knowing what to grow is as important as knowing how. Adapting to customer needs is crucial. “They simply know what to cultivate,” adds Kangmo Lee. Mr. Park admits, “At Haedamto, we grow all three colors of pepper to meet the specific demands of consumers.”
Growing Together
Mr. Haedamto has built a strong and knowledgeable team around him. He is well supported by longstanding partners like AgriCNS. Besides distributing Grodan products and solutions, AgriCNS is a well-established company in the Korean greenhouse sector, providing substantial knowledge and experience for over 20 years. The company is known for its innovative approach to greenhouse solutions, ensuring growers are at the forefront of technological developments.
The relationship between Haedamto and AgriCNS has been strong for years. "I've known Chan and Sang since 1998," Park says. "We maintain close communication, not only about Grodan products but also about new technologies, varieties, and greenhouse improvements."
1998 was also the year when the partnership between Haedamto and Grodan began. That was when Park's father started using Grodan slabs for growing peppers. "When I joined the business in 2006, I continued using Grodan," Park says. His father’s experience with water management and close relationship with AgriCNS and Grodan staff has been valuable. "Personally, I've learned a lot about water management and optimal growing conditions by using Grodan."
Service is what Park values, besides the products’ quality. "The updates from the Netherlands are very useful," he says. "As the second generation in this business, I want to expand and keep up with the industry, so I appreciate all information available in the horticultural sector."
Efficient Irrigation Management
Haedamto utilizes the full range of Grodan products, including plugs, blocks, and slabs. This combination promotes fast root development. By using Grodan products from propagation to final cultivation, the growth of the plant can be easily steered, influencing both the quality and quantity of production. Park claims, “We don’t require anything additional at the moment.”
Making informed decisions regarding water and EC management helps fine-tune the irrigation strategy to avoid costly mistakes and optimize the cultivation process for the best possible results. “We use GroSens to monitor water content (WC) and electrical conductivity (EC) in the slabs,” Park explains. “This helps us manage the root zone effectively and optimize plant health.”
Future Aspirations
As our engaging conversation with Min Su Park concludes, it is clear that Haedamto’s success is deeply rooted in tradition, providing a wealth of experience and ambition for further growth. The strong family foundation, which knows what and how to grow, displays thorough knowledge of the market, making future endeavors look bright.
With its rich history and forward-thinking approach, Haedamto is poised for continued growth and success in the ever-evolving world of high-tech greenhouse cultivation. The family business continues to grow, as healthy as their self-propagated young plants. It all starts with a solid foundation, and Haedamto’s foundation is definitely well-rooted.
