Persimmon Harvest Drops 40%... Sweet Persimmon Production Hub Sangju, Gyeongbuk, Actively Purchasing Astringent Persimmons

Due to the longest rainy season on record, persimmon crop yields have significantly declined... Dried persimmon production is expected to decrease, leading to price increases.

Persimmons for dried persimmons displayed at Sangju Horticultural Cooperative Auction Market.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] In Sangju, Gyeongbuk, the main production area of dried persimmons, the purchase of persimmons (astringent persimmons) for making dried persimmons is in full swing.

According to Sangju City on the 22nd, Sangju Nonghyup, along with Horticultural Nonghyup and Nammun Fruit Wholesale Market, started persimmon transactions on the 12th, and the Sangju Dried Persimmon Distribution Center began purchasing on the 15th. These persimmons are bought by dried persimmon companies, peeled, and dried for about two months to make dried persimmons.

This year's persimmon crop is significantly poor compared to previous years. Sangju City expects the harvest to decrease by about 40% compared to last year due to spring frost damage and the longest rainy season on record, which caused the fruit to not develop properly or fall off in large quantities.

Last year, 12,470 tons (16.942 billion KRW) of persimmons were traded through Nonghyup and others. Accordingly, the production of dried persimmons is expected to decrease, and prices are likely to rise slightly.

On the 21st, Mayor Kang Young-seok of Sangju, who visited the Nonghyup wholesale market, said, "Despite the difficulties caused by the prolonged rainy season and typhoons this year, I thank you for complying with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. The city will do its best to ease the concerns of dried persimmon farmers even a little."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.