(Yanggu=Yonhap News) Reporter Yangji Woong = Yanggu County's representative agricultural specialty, watermelon, has made its first appearance in the metropolitan wholesale market on the 15th, meeting consumers as the summer season arrives.
The watermelons from Yanggu shipped this day are high-quality products with a sugar content of 12-13 Brix and weighing over 9kg, recording a maximum wholesale price of 45,000 won at the Seoul Gangseo Agricultural and Fisheries Wholesale Market.
This is 20,000 won more expensive than last year's peak wholesale price.
Yanggu watermelons, grown in an environment with significant daily temperature variations, are known for their high sugar content, crisp texture, and firm flesh, making them popular among both wholesale merchants and consumers.
This year, 388 farms across 194 hectares are expected to produce approximately 14,000 tons.
Farm revenue is projected to exceed the initial estimate of 21 billion won.
Yanggu County is supporting high-quality watermelon cultivation by implementing a joint selection process through local distribution centers, helping farmers with greenhouse modernization, environmental control systems for extreme weather, and replacing aging vinyl coverings to ensure stable agricultural production.
Kim Sang-hoon, director of the Agricultural Technology Center, stated, "Yanggu watermelons are exceptional in both sugar content and texture due to significant daily temperature differences and abundant sunlight," adding, "We will continue to support quality improvement and distribution competitiveness to contribute to increased farm income."
yangdoo@yna.co.kr