Jakarta citizens who visited the exhibition hall in the Kota Kasablanka area of Jakarta, Indonesia, where the ’2025 Nonsan City Agricultural and Food Overseas Expo’ is being held, are tasting desserts made with Nonsan strawberries. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — At a bustling food expo in the heart of Jakarta, Indonesian shoppers eagerly sampled fresh strawberries flown in from Nonsan, South Korea.
Among them was Ainna, a 30-year-old visitor, who proudly showcased a strawberry shortcake she had just purchased. Taking a bite, she remarked, “The combination of fresh cream and strawberries is perfect. Unlike our local variety, which is small and tart, Korean strawberries are large, sweet, and ideal for desserts.”
The 2025 Nonsan Agricultural and Food Expo, held at the Kota Kasablanka shopping mall, opened to a packed crowd even before its official launch. Couples, friends, and families flocked to the event, many capturing moments with strawberry-themed treats in hand.
Despite their relatively high price—ranging from 175,000 to 360,000 Indonesian rupiah (approximately $12 to $25 per pack of 330-400 grams)—Nonsan’s fresh strawberries, including the Seolhyang, Vitaberry, and Kingsberry varieties, sold out rapidly. Other agricultural products such as pears, Shine Muscat grapes, perilla oil, sesame oil, and dried persimmons also gained significant attention from local consumers.
Fara, a 35-year-old visitor, discovered the appeal of Korean perilla oil in an unexpected way. “I thought it was a body oil because of its wonderful aroma,” she said, applying a few drops to her wrist and temple. “I learned that the distinct fragrance in Korean cuisine comes from perilla oil, and since it’s also said to have health benefits, I bought a bottle.”
The exhibition center in Kota Kasablanka, Jakarta, Indonesia, where the ’2025 Nonsan City Agricultural and Food Overseas Expo’ is being held, is crowded with Jakarta citizens visiting the event. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Jointly hosted by Nonsan City and the Jakarta Metropolitan Government, the expo aims to promote South Korean agricultural products and expand exports to Indonesia and the broader Southeast Asian market.
Running through February 16, the event features 38 exhibition booths and an array of live experiences, including a strawberry cooking competition, chef-led cooking demonstrations, a fan meeting with popular YouTuber Tzuyang, traditional Korean percussion performances, and K-pop random play dance events.
In a move to strengthen trade ties, Nonsan city officials held business discussions with local food enterprises, including Boga Group, and explored strategies for boosting agricultural exports.
Additionally, Nonsan Mayor Baek Sung-hyun met with Jakarta Governor Teguh Setiyabudi at the city’s government headquarters to discuss agricultural cooperation and broader bilateral relations.
“Our goal is to enhance the global recognition of Nonsan’s agricultural products as we prepare for the 2027 Nonsan World Strawberry Expo,” Mayor Baek stated. “Indonesia, with its nearly 300 million people, is a key market for us. We are committed to expanding export channels and increasing farmers’ incomes by sharing the excellence of our produce worldwide.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
