Why local farmers and small business owners came together Wadiz
Local farmers and local food entrepreneurs from Daejeon, Buyeo, Yecheon, and other parts of Korea gathered Wadiz.
They use good local ingredients and make good products in their own unique way, but they can have a hard time entering the market with fast shipping and lowest prices.
To help them, WadizKorea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) joined forces.
Here's the journey Wadizhas been on to empower the people who protect our neighborhoods.
The Rootit Project: The value of a neighborhood grows from its roots.
The Rootit project, a local value creation project first introduced by Korea Water Resources Corporation, means to create a sustainable circular structure based on local roots.
A total of eight companies were selected from a call for applications targeting local food from young farmers, eco-friendly food brands utilizing local produce, and proprietary technology patented products.
They can crowdfund Wadizto showcase their products and directly raise funds from supporters to run their business.
Wadiz helped them go beyond just opening a fund and actually helped the brands become competitive in the marketplace ,with expert PDs and one-on-one interactions with participating companies along the way.
Here are eight stories of Made in Local, Proud to be Local.
The eight selected companies are startups that have developed food and alcoholic beverages utilizing unique local resources in Daejeon, Yecheon, Andong, and other cities.
Local products ranging from local traditional liquor, Korean beef jerky, yogurt, and dog nutrition are all represented.
You can see eight of their stories of pride in the "Made in Local" exhibitionthrough December 7, and contribute to their funding.
Here are three of these projects that stand out for their local stories.
'Goma Soju' made with specialty rice from Tangjin and high-sugar Hohpung sweet potatoes
"Our new Goma Soju is a new type of distilled spirit that is hard to find in Korea, and we came Wadizto understand consumers' reactions and the impact of its flavor before its official launch." -Shin Pyongyang Distillery (Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do)
<당진 신평양조장의 고마소주> *19세 이상 참여 가능한 프로젝트
'Goma Soju' from Dangjin Shin Pyongyang Brewery is a traditional liquor made with 'Haenaru Rice', a special grade of rice from Dangjin, the No. 1 rice-producing region in Korea, and 'Ho Pung Sweet Potato', which has a high sugar content and moist texture.
Unlike Japanese sochu, which is sweet and bubbly, it has a clean, deep flavor. It has a subtle grainy flavor that is unique to Hanaru rice.
A view of the Shinpyeongyang Seafood Factory in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea.
Shin Pyongyang Brewery is a 100-year-old rice wine brewery located in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, which was founded in 1933and has been in the family for three generations.
All products are made with local agricultural products, including 100% Dangjin rice and sweet potatoes. The first product to be launched with Wadiz funding is 'Goma So ju ', which aims to establish itself as a new leading product in the sweet potato soju market.
→ Go to Funding
'Ubow Premium Jerky' with the authentic flavor of Yecheon Korean Beef
"We wanted to capture the local identity of Yecheon, so we created 'Ubow Premium Jerky' with our accumulated experience and technology, including Yecheon Korean beef fed with sesame seeds and research utilizing natural enzymes. We would like to showcase our premium jerky to Wadiz supporters to see if it can be loved by consumers and receive valuable feedback to make it even better." - SORUM Corporation (Yecheon, Gyeongbuk) -
Ubow Premium Jerky is hand-cut from Korean beef slaughtered on the same day, and is made with the natural enzyme "bromelain" extracted from pineapple, which gives it a tender texture without being tough.
CEO Jimin Choi (far right) and the SORUM team responsible for hygiene and quality at the HACCP-certified facility.
CEO Choi Jimin Choi has been running a butcher shop in Yecheon for 9 years, anddecided to solve the problem of "Can we deliver good meat in an easier, healthier, and more special way?"
She founded a HACCP-certified butcher shop with her husband and continued her research. She used her accumulated experience in raw meat processing technology and natural enzyme extraction techniques to create Ubow Premium Jerky.
Be one of the first to try the first package of Ubow Premium Jerky, a jerky you can trust from the source to the taste, as a Wadiz exclusive.
→ Go to Funding
Patented glutinous rice coating technology! Bean sprouts made from the beans of Daejeon
"We believe that reviving Daejeon's local food Kongbugak into the modern era is not just about manufacturing, but a record of the heart that connects generations. Based on the support and interest we received in our first round of funding, we would like to pay it forward with this round of funding. We came to Wadiz Wadizagain to continue the brand value of Kongbugak." - Kongbugak (Daejeon)
Kongpugak is a traditional snack from Daejeon, Korea, with a patented glutinous rice coatingtechnology that gives it a crispier texture.
It's coated twice with glutinous rice to maximize the savory flavor and crispy texture. It comes in 6 flavors, including corn, spicy cheese, and frosted, so you can choose your favorite!
Dongju Seo, CEO of Kongpugak (right), with his mother (center), who has been running the Daejeon soybean frying family for over 20 years.
Seo Dong-joo, the CEOof Kongpugak, who has been making Kongpugak for the second generation, inheriting his mother's handiwork and sincerity, has a deep sense of mission and pride in protecting Daejeon's local food.
"I think reviving Kongbugak in the modern era is not just about manufacturing, but about recording the hearts of generations, and I thinkWadizis a space where people who understand and empathize with such hearts gather," said Seo.
Based on the support and interest we received from our first round of funding Wadiz, we're relaunching the project as a "Christmas Gooey Bag Edition".
→ Go to Funding
To be a "sustainable" local flavor
"I've been thinking a lot about it for a long time since a few years ago, and I think it's a project that can help our farmers and businesses a lot." -Shin Pyongyang Brewery (Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do)
What Makers Say About Participating in Made in Local
The goal of the Rootit project is to create a structure that will not only help them succeed in funding, but also empower local, homegrown brands to grow on their own, and in doing so, create a virtuous cycle that will revitalize the local economy.
The experience of meeting new customers through crowdfunding, telling your brand story, and refining your product based on their feedback will be the most valuable asset for a small, local brand.
The eight companies that participated in the project will get more than just funding.
Through various collaborations, Wadizwill continue to support and attempt to help local value keepers stand on their own feet and grow deeper and bigger roots.
The Made in Local exhibitionis open through Sunday, December 7th. Experience local food for yourself at the exhibition!
This journey will continue so that products with local stories can reach farther and more people!
