0. Executive Summary
Judgment axis | Key judgment |
| Item Identity | National Forest Seed & Variety Management Center Standard Chestnut tree Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. ( National Forest Science Institute ) |
| Key role | As a representative domestic nut forest product, it serves as raw chestnuts, peeled chestnuts, frozen chestnuts, raw materials for processing, regional specialties, and export ingredients. |
| Harvesting principle | Manage Cultivar, Origin, Harvest Date, Cluster Size, Fruit Drop, Size, and Pest Condition as Lot required values. |
| Product separation | Manage unpeeled chestnuts, raw chestnuts, peeled chestnuts, frozen chestnuts, boiled chestnuts, powder, bean paste, and paste as individual products. |
| Separation of similar items | Chinese chestnuts and European chestnuts are classified as Species, distinct from other nuts such as walnuts and almonds. |
| Domestic statistics | Chestnuts are an independent survey item in the national approved forest product production survey, and their production volume and value are surveyed annually. ( KOFPI ) |
| 2024 Production Statistics | 2024 National Chestnut Production Volume and Value: Entered after verification of detailed raw data from the Forest Products Production Survey |
| main production area | Based on the 2013 Forest Product Production Survey by the Korea Forest Service’s Dadream, Buyeo-gun recorded the highest amount at 15,543,128 kg, with Gongju and Hadong identified as major production areas. The latest rankings require re-verification of the 2024 raw data. ( KOFPI ) |
| local brands | The registration cases of Gongju Jeongan Chestnuts (2006) and Chungju Chestnuts (2011) as Geographical Indications for forest products are presented in official Dadream data. ( KOFPI ) |
| Supply risk | Aged trees, extreme weather events, chestnut pests, concentrated harvest season, storage spoilage, peel loss, frozen quality, import competition |
| Industry characteristics | The Forest Products Production Survey has been managing chestnuts as a sample survey item since 2013, and the survey system was changed in 2024. ( KOFPI ) |
| Operating Principles | Cultivar–Forest Household–Orchard–Harvest–Sorting–Storage–Peeling–Processing–Lot–Buyer RFQ Connection |
| Final goal | Connecting domestic forest farm production with demand for distribution, processing, food service, confectionery, private brands, and exports, and feeding back buyer performance into variety and orchard management. |
Chestnuts are a fruit crop with a clear domestic production base, and their production volume and value are continuously managed within the Korea Forest Service's forest product production survey system. Since 2013, chestnuts, walnuts, jujubes, and astringent persimmons have been converted to sample survey items, and the survey system was reorganized again in 2024. ( KOFPI )
1. Plant Identity & Product Master
Basic fields | detail |
| Korean name | night |
| English name | Chestnut / Korean Chestnut |
| Representative scientific name | Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. ( National Institute of Forest Science ) |
| classification | Fagaceae, Castanea |
| Edible parts | Seeds with the spiny cluster, pericarp, and inner skin removed |
| Non-edible · Separate management | Spiny clusters, outer bark, inner bark, leaves, branches, pruning byproducts |
| Major harvesting stages | Immature fruit → Cluster maturation/browning → Splitting/dropping → Chestnut ripe for harvest |
| Basic product form | Peeled chestnuts, raw chestnuts, peeled chestnuts, frozen chestnuts, boiled chestnuts, chestnut flour, red bean paste, paste |
| Basic processing stage | Cluster separation, sorting, washing, storage, peeling, freezing, steaming, drying, grinding, sedimentation |
| Basic use | Raw food, roasted chestnuts, steamed chestnuts, school meals, confectionery, baking, rice cakes, red bean paste, HMR, PB, export |
| Principle of similar items | Castanea Species, distinct from domestic chestnuts centered on C. crenata, are classified into a Species Field. |
The National Center for the Management of Tree Seeds and Varieties of Korea registers and manages the chestnut tree as a distinct species, designating its scientific name as Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. Therefore, all domestic cultivar names are managed under this Plant Master as Cultivar. ( National Institute of Forest Science )
Product Master
Product ID | Actual product form | Key Management Standards |
| CHESTNUT-P01 | Seedlings for cultivation and grafted seedlings | Cultivar · Seedling Source · Grafting History |
| CHESTNUT-P02 | Harvest with attached clusters | Harvest date, cluster opening, pest damage |
| CHESTNUT-P03 | Blood chestnuts · Raw chestnuts | Cultivar · Size · Weight · Appearance · Moisture |
| CHESTNUT-P04 | Premium Conflict Raw Chestnuts | Size, uniformity, pest infestation, origin |
| CHESTNUT-P05 | Raw chestnuts for storage | Storage suitability, sorting, spoilage, and pest damage |
| CHESTNUT-P06 | Peeled chestnuts | Peeling rate, browning, breakage, hygiene |
| CHESTNUT-P07 | Frozen peeled chestnuts | Freeze/Thaw Quality/Packaging |
| CHESTNUT-P08 | Boiled chestnuts · Steamed chestnuts | Heating, Texture, Sugar Content, Yield |
| CHESTNUT-P09 | Night Pieces · Dice | Cutting specifications, breakage, color |
| CHESTNUT-P10 | chestnut powder | Dryness, moisture, particle size, color |
| CHESTNUT-P11 | chestnut paste | Sugar content, solid content, viscosity, and blending |
| CHESTNUT-P12 | Night Paste | Particle size, viscosity, color, and composition |
| CHESTNUT-P13 | Confectionery and baking ingredients | Specifications for peeled chestnuts, diced chestnuts, powder, and bean paste |
| CHESTNUT-P14 | Local specialties · Private brand | Origin · Cultivar · Processing History |
| CHESTNUT-P15 | Fresh and processed chestnuts for export | Country, Quarantine, HS, Buyer Standards |
2. Product Classification & Use Segmentation
Classification criteria | Subdivision type | Management principles |
| Plant classification | Castanea crenata | Domestic Basic Plant Entity |
| Species | Castanea spp. | Separate Species such as Chinese Nights and European Nights |
| Cultivar | Domestic breeding and cultivation varieties | Cultivar ID |
| production site | City/Province/City/County/Orchard | Origin Entity |
| Harvesting stage | Immature, pre-opening, open, fruit drop, optimal harvest ripeness | Harvest Stage |
| size | Actual grades such as large, medium, and small particles | Buyer Spec |
| Distribution methods | Fresh chestnuts, stored chestnuts, peeled chestnuts, frozen chestnuts | SKU separation |
| Processing form | Steaming, drying, powder, bean paste, paste | Product ID |
| Final use | Raw food, school meals, confectionery, rice cakes, HMR, exports | Buyer Specification |
| Transaction type | Source procurement · Contract farming · Regular supply · Processing · Private brand · Export | Contract NDA |
3. Production, Harvest & Post-harvest
step | Essential Dataset | Management purpose |
| Cultivation plan | Species·Cultivar·Area·Year·Use | Long-term production plan |
| Seedlings and grafts | Variety · Rootstock · Seedling Source | Cultivar tracking |
| formula | Official Year · Planting Distance · Orchard ID | production base |
| Pension management | Pruning, canopy, and fruiting branches | Maintaining productivity |
| flowering | Female flowers, male flowers, blooming date | Fruit set prediction |
| moisture | Variety combination, pollen, weather | Fruit stability |
| Fruit set | Fruit set and fruit drop | Production forecast |
| rising | Temperature, rainfall, heatwave, typhoon | Disaster risk |
| Watering | Soil moisture and irrigation | Excessive negligence |
| dispute | Input materials and timing | Production history |
| pests | Occurrence and Control | Quality and quantity |
| mushroom maturity | Browning and about ten | Harvest judgment |
| harvest | Fallen fruit, harvest date, weight | Harvest Lot |
| Separating clusters | Chestnut separation/loss | Raw Product |
| Selection | Size, pest damage, wounds, decay | Grade |
| purifying | Removal of foreign objects and soil | hygiene |
| Pre-cooling | Temperature and time in the relevant city | Quality stability |
| save | Temperature, humidity, and period | Inhibition of decay and germination |
| peeling | Removal of outer and inner layers | Peeled Yield |
| Browning management | Color change after peeling | Fresh-cut quality |
| freezing | Freezing and storage | Year-round supply |
| Boiling and steaming | Time and temperature | Cooked Product |
| dry | Moisture and time | Flour Raw Material |
| smash | Island | chestnut powder |
| Anggeumhwa | Steaming, grinding, and mixing | Filling |
| Paste | Viscosity and particle size | Bakery Ingredient |
| packaging | Vacuum, refrigeration, freezing, etc. | circulation |
| shipment | Buyer · Lot · Delivery Date | Delivery |
4. Quality Specification & Lot Management
Quality items | Raw chestnuts | Peeled chestnuts and frozen chestnuts | processed goods | finished product | Public rating |
| Species | essential | succession | succession | tracking | Public |
| Cultivar | essential | succession | Raw material standards | tracking | Verified |
| mountainous district | essential | succession | succession | tracking | Public |
| Forestry and farming households | ID | succession | tracking | tracking | Verified |
| Lot | essential | new | new | new | Verified/NDA |
| Harvest year | essential | succession | succession | tracking | Verified |
| Harvest day | essential | succession | succession | tracking | Verified |
| size | core | Raw material standards | Input specifications | Product Standards | Member |
| weight | Individuals/Packaging | input | Output | Display amount | Member |
| appearance | Gloss, wounds, and insect damage | Raw Material Evaluation | The relevant city | Product Standards | Member |
| Peel color | check | - | - | - | Member |
| flesh color | After changing fruit | core | core | Product Standards | Verified |
| insect pests | essential | eliminate | Unsuitable raw materials | management | Verified |
| corruption | essential | core | Non-conformity exclusion | management | Verified |
| germination | Key items in storage | - | - | - | Verified |
| alien substance | check | essential | essential | essential | Verified |
| moisture | Key items in storage | By Product | Powder core | Product Standards | Verified |
| pesticide residues | Legal standards | succession | check | Legal standards | Verified/NDA |
| microorganism | If necessary | core | core | Product Standards | Verified/NDA |
| Peeling rate | - | core | Cost linkage | - | NDA |
| Damage rate | - | core | Raw material specifications | Product Standards | NDA |
| browning | - | core | Fabrication aptitude | Product Standards | Verified |
| Freezing history | - | essential | succession | tracking | NDA |
| Thawing quality | - | core | Raw material suitability | - | Verified |
| Powder yield | - | input | core | Cost linkage | NDA |
| Sediment yield | - | input | core | Cost linkage | NDA |
| Processing history | - | corresponding | essential | essential | NDA |
| packaging | raw chestnuts | Refrigeration/Freezing | B2B | Labeling packaging | Member |
| save | Refrigeration and storage | freezing | By product | By product | Verified |
| Expiration date | The relevant city | Test-based | setting | mark | Verified |
| Shipment | record | record | record | record | Verified |
| Returns and Claims | record | record | record | record | NDA |
| Repurchase | connection | connection | connection | connection | NDA |
Lot Master Required Field
Lot ID · Item/Product Type · Species/Scientific Name/Cultivar · Origin/Orchard · Producer/Forestry Household · Seedling/Grafting Source · Planting Year/Age · Flowering/Pollination/Fruit Set Information · Harvest Date/Harvest Year · Cluster Dehiscence/Fruit Drop · Fresh Chestnut Weight/Size/Specifications/Grade · Appearance/Pest Damage/Sprouting/Sprouting · Pesticide Use Records · Pesticide Residue/Microbiological Test Report · Pre-cooling/Storage History · Raw Material Lot · Peeling Rate/Breakage Rate/Browning · Freezing/Steaming/Drying/Grinding/Sedum/Paste History · Packaging Date · Best Before Date · Shipper · Returns/Claims · Repurchase
5. Korea Market & Demand Structure
Customers | Purchase criteria | Cooperation opportunities |
| Forestry and Producer Organizations | Cultivar · Harvest Date · Size | Joint shipment from production areas |
| Forestry Cooperative | Production location, grade, storage | Joint selection and storage |
| Wholesale of raw chestnuts | Size, pest damage, decay, origin | Regular supply |
| Large-scale distribution | Uniformity, origin, and safety | Small packaging · Private label |
| Online/Direct Transaction | Regional Brand · Harvest Date | Direct from the farm |
| School and public meals | Peeled chestnuts, origin, safety, specifications | Regular delivery |
| food service companies | Peeled chestnuts, frozen chestnuts, diced | Foodservice |
| Korean food and rice cake manufacturing | Raw chestnuts, peeled chestnuts, red bean paste | B2B raw materials |
| Confectionery and Baking | Chestnut dice, powder, bean paste, paste | Ingredient RFQ |
| Dessert company | Chestnut paste · red bean paste | Premium Product |
| HMR · Meal Kit | Peeled chestnuts and frozen chestnuts | Regular supply |
| Local specialty product business operator | Local Chestnuts · Cultivar | Local PB |
| Canned goods and processing companies | Peeling yield, size, and storage properties | Processing RFQ |
| exporters | Variety, Size, Quarantine, Packaging | Export RFQ |
| Research and technology institutions | Variety, Storage, Peeling, Processing | Joint demonstration |
6. Trade & Supply-chain Intelligence
step | Key variables | Operational judgment |
| Domestic orchard production | Cultivar · Age · Crop Conditions | Local Supply |
| Contract farming and procurement | Raw chestnuts / Processing / Export purposes | Buyer Plan |
| harvest | Opening, fallen fruit, ripeness | Raw Grade |
| Selection | Size, insect damage, wounds | Product Branch |
| save | Temperature, humidity, period, decay, germination | Shipment control |
| peeling | Yield, breakage, browning | Processing Economics |
| freezing | Haedong Quality and Inventory | Year-round supply |
| Steaming and boiling | Organization and yield | HMR |
| powder | Dryness and particle size | Bakery |
| Bean paste | Sweetness, viscosity, color | Dessert |
| Distribution and supply | Refrigeration, Freezing, Delivery Time | Buyer rating |
| export | HS · Quarantine · Origin | Trade |
| RFQ · Repurchase | Quality · Price · Claim | Supplier Ranking |
The Korea Forest Service provides chestnuts as a separate item for observation and export guidance in its Comprehensive Information on Forest Product Exports, and also operates the 2024 revised Comprehensive Export Guide for Forest Products. This demonstrates that chestnuts are not merely a domestic consumer product but a subject for export supply chain management. ( KOFPI )
Import and export management
item | Management principles |
| Raw Chestnuts HS | Registration of fresh and dried chestnuts after verification with the Korea Customs Service HSK |
| frozen chestnuts | Check three times separately from raw chestnuts |
| Peeled chestnuts | Check three times based on processing degree and preservation status |
| Prepared and processed chestnuts | Classification by Product, such as Sugar Preparations, Canned Goods, and Pastes |
| Export volume | Input after verification of raw data from the Korea Customs Service's import and export trade statistics. |
| export value | Input after official verification of raw data |
| Import volume and value | Input after official verification of raw data |
| major countries | Enter after verifying country, quantity, and amount by HS code |
| Quarantine | Check country-specific plant quarantine conditions for fresh chestnuts, seedlings, etc. |
| FTA | Agreement Tariff Rates and Rules of Origin by Country, HS, and Processing Status |
| Storage and Logistics | Separating raw chestnuts, frozen chestnuts, and processed products by product |
| Customs clearance unit price | Calculation only within the same HS code, quantity, and amount unit |
7. Processing, By-products & PRP Intelligence
Products and processes | Key conditions | RFQ conversion |
| Fresh chestnuts from the mountain | Cultivar · Size · Harvest Date | Fresh RFQ |
| Confrontation Premium Night | Size, uniformity, and pest damage | Retail/Export |
| Saved night | Storage period, germination, spoilage | Regular Supply |
| Peeled chestnuts | Peeling rate, color, damage | Foodservice RFQ |
| Frozen peeled chestnuts | Frozen and thawed tissues | HMR/Bakery |
| Night Dice | Size, Damage, Color | Bakery |
| Boiled chestnuts · Steamed chestnuts | Structure, Heating, Yield | HMR |
| chestnut powder | Dryness, moisture, particle size | Bakery Ingredient |
| chestnut paste | Sweetness, viscosity, color | Confectionery |
| Night Paste | Particle size and viscosity | Dessert |
| puree | Moisture, particle size, color | Dessert/HMR |
| Non-commercial small particles | When safety is compliant | Powder/sediment conversion |
| Damaged peeled chestnuts | When safety is compliant | Paste/Flour |
| Pericarp and inner skin | Separated from Food Products | Extraction and material utilization are verified separately. |
| thorny cluster | Separation of food supply chains | Review of compost and biomaterials |
| Decay and Insect Damage | Food supply chain exclusion | Disposal of waste and non-food items |
Product Research Profile (PRP)
PRP area | Key question |
| Cultivar | Which use is it suitable for: fresh fruit, peeled chestnuts, processing, or export? |
| receipt | What is the difference in productivity between old trees and mature trees? |
| harvest | What is the relationship between cluster dehiscence, fruit drop, and optimal marketability? |
| size | How do Buyers and Processing Yields Differ by Confrontational and Neutral? |
| insect pests | How to determine internal damage from negligence early |
| save | What are the conditions to minimize decay, germination, and weight loss? |
| peeling | What is the actual edible yield after removing the outer and inner layers? |
| browning | What are the conditions for maintaining the color of peeled chestnuts? |
| freezing | How do the texture, color, and breakage change after thawing? |
| powder | What are the drying yield, particle size, and processing suitability of the starch? |
| red bean paste | What are the viscosity, color, taste, and processing yield by variety? |
| Buyer | How do origin, cultivar, size, and product affect repurchase rate? |
8. AX Transformation
first of all | Execution item | Performance indicators |
| 1 | Species·Cultivar·Origin·Age·Harvest Date·Lot required values | Required value completion rate |
| 2 | Raw Chestnuts, Stored Chestnuts, Peeled Chestnuts, Frozen Chestnuts, Powder, and Paste Product Separation | Product identification rate |
| 3 | Linking weather, flowering, pollination, fruit set, and harvest data | Production history connection rate |
| 4 | Data conversion of storage, test reports, peeling, freezing, and processing history | Traceability rate |
| 5 | Forest Household – Forestry Cooperative – Processing Enterprise – Buyer RFQ Connection | RFQ Match Rate |
| 6 | Video AI size, appearance, and pest detection | Automatic judgment accuracy |
| 7 | Internal Pest Control AI Detection Pilot | Detection accuracy |
| 8 | Production volume and harvest time forecast | Error compared to actual |
| 9 | Weather disaster risk prediction | Damage early warning rate |
| 10 | Prediction of storage spoilage and germination | Storage loss rate |
| 11 | Prediction of peeling and breakage rates | Error compared to actual |
| 12 | Predicting browning of peeled chestnuts | Standard conformity rate |
| 13 | Prediction of processing yield for chestnut flour and bean paste | Yield Error |
| 14 | AI Supplier/Buyer Match | Sample→Contract Conversion Rate |
| 15 | Traceability | Nursery/Orchard → Finished Product Traceability |
9. Industry Problem Bank
Problem group | Problem Definition | Required data |
| Mixed varieties | Size, ripeness, and processing suitability by cultivar are not managed. | Cultivar |
| Aging of orchards | Productivity and quality variations by recipient | Tree Age |
| Production concentrated in specific regions | Supply and demand sensitive to crop conditions in specific major production areas | Regional Production |
| extreme weather | Heatwave, typhoon, torrential rain, drought | Climate |
| Moisture and fruit set instability | Variation in fruit set due to weather conditions during the flowering period | Flowering · Pollination |
| pests | Internal fruit pests and reduced marketability | Pest |
| Harvest season concentration | Short-term manpower, sorting, and storage burden | Harvest Schedule |
| Fruit drop management | Quality degradation may occur if collection is delayed. | Harvest Time |
| Size deviation | Discrepancy in specifications between fresh fruit and export buyers | Size Grade |
| Storage decay | Loss during storage period | Storage |
| germination | Deterioration of marketability during storage | Sprouting |
| peeling loss | Decrease in peeled chestnut processing yield | Peeling Yield |
| browning | Peeled chestnuts and Fresh-cut chestnuts suffer from appearance degradation | Color |
| Frozen quality | Tissue changes after thawing | Freeze/Thaw |
| Processing yield deviation | Differences in flour and bean paste yields by variety and size | Processing Yield |
| Domestic and Import Competition | Competition in price, variety, and processing raw materials | Origin·Price |
| Dispersion of test reports | Disconnection between Lot and Quality/Safety Information | Certificate |
| Repurchase not reflected | Buyer results have no impact on farm and variety selection | Evaluation·Reorder |
10. Farmer RFQ & Collaboration Model
RFQ Type | Public Registration | Verify/NDA |
| Domestic raw chestnut procurement | Region · Cultivar · Harvest period | Rental price, quantity, unit price |
| Confrontation night sale | Size, Origin, Harvest Date | Lot · Price |
| Buy raw chestnuts | Grade/Use | MOQ · Actual Unit Price |
| Regular supply | Product Type · Delivery Cycle | Contract volume |
| contract farming | Cultivar · Target Standard | Forest house · Area · Unit price |
| Forestry Cooperative Joint Shipment | Region, Grade, Period | Physical quantity and facilities |
| Storage chestnut supply | Storage Period/Rating | Storage conditions and prices |
| Peeled chestnut supply | Size, peeling, color | Peeling Rate · Test Report |
| Frozen peeled chestnuts | Standards · Freeze | MOQ · Delivery Time |
| Peeled chestnuts for school lunches | Size, Safety, and Country of Origin | Test Report · Price |
| Night Dice | Cutting specifications | Processing yield |
| chestnut powder | Particle size and moisture | B2B standards |
| chestnut paste | Sugar content and viscosity | Manufacturing conditions |
| Night Paste | Particle size, color, viscosity | Bakery RFQ |
| Confectionery and Baking | Dice, powder, and bean paste | Regular supply |
| local specialties | Local ingredients | Regional PB |
| OEM·PB | Cookies, bread, red bean paste, desserts | Manufacturing conditions |
| export | Raw chestnuts, peeled chestnuts, processed chestnuts | Quarantine · HS · Contract |
| Technology demonstration | AI sorting, storage, and peeling | Facilities and test conditions |
| Research cooperation | Variety, Storage, and Processing Yield | Dataset·IP |
11. RFQ Request First
① Need Products & Materials
Companies and institutions seeking necessary products, agricultural products, raw materials, and processed goods register purchasing demands. Registered requests are utilized to review cooperation with potential suppliers and producers based on the RFQ Intelligence Library.
Process:
RFQ Registration → Supplier/Product Review → Collaboration Connection → Future AI Matching
Register
② We are looking for production and manufacturing partners. (Need Suppliers & Manufacturers)
Register a request to find necessary production and supply partners, ranging from farms and producer organizations to processing companies, OEM, ODM, and private label manufacturers.
Process:
RFQ Registration → Review of Production & Manufacturing Capabilities → Collaboration Connection → Future AI Partner Matching
Register
③ We are looking for domestic and international buyers. (Need Buyers)
Farmers, producer organizations, and manufacturing companies are requesting cooperation with new buyers, such as domestic and international distributors, importers, brand companies, and food service and catering businesses.
Process:
RFQ Registration → Product & Supply Capability Review → Market & Buyer Connection → Future AI Buyer Matching
Register
Contact : mail@markethub.org
Version History
Version | Main contents | situation |
| v1.0 | Plant Identity · Domestic Forest Product Production · Raw Chestnuts · Storage · Peeled Chestnuts · Freezing · Powder · Bean Paste · Paste · RFQ Basic Structure Registration | complete |
| v1.1 | Verification of official raw data for the 2024·2025 Forest Product Production Survey, Production by City/County, Cultivar, HS, and Import/Export | expected |
| v2.0 | Subdivision of quality standards for variety, age, harvest maturity, storage, peeling rate, browning, freezing, powder, sediment, and paste | expected |
| v3.0 | Nursery–Forest Household–Orchard–Forestry Cooperative–Storage–Peeling–Processor–Buyer Verified Container Combination | expected |
