The price of house-grown vegetables in South Korea soars due to the rising heating costs

Published Mar 6, 2023

Tridge summary

Rising heating costs and sluggish harvest due to adverse weather conditions have led to a significant increase in the wholesale prices of major vegetables like cucumbers, onions, green onions, and zucchini in South Korea. The price of Cheongyang pepper has surged by over 80% this year, and the cost of other winter vegetables like carrots and onions has also seen a substantial hike. The rising prices of fresh foods are impacting both households and the catering industry, with some establishments switching to less expensive ingredients or removing certain dishes from their menus. The situation has been exacerbated by labor shortages and increased consumption, leading to an unstable supply-demand situation.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Onions are displayed at a large supermarket in downtown Seoul on the 5th. Wholesale prices of major vegetables such as cucumbers, onions, green onions, and zucchini soared again due to rising heating costs and the opening of schools. 2023.03.05. Mr. A, who runs a Haejangguk restaurant in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, is afraid of customers asking for refills of side dishes these days. This is because the prices of Cheongyang peppers, carrots, and onions have risen two to three times compared to last year. Mr. A said, “The price of Cheongyang pepper has risen by more than 80% from the beginning of the year, but there are no vegetables that can replace the spicy taste. I have to pay an extra fee,” he said. The price of winter vegetables continues to skyrocket, raising the price of meals. This is because the harvest has been sluggish due to cold waves and heavy snow, and the price of facility-grown crops has skyrocketed due to rising heating costs. As the price of fresh foods such as zucchini ...

Source: Donga