Strawberry Season... Lotte Mart Introduces 'Hwanggeumdangdo Strawberry'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Lotte Mart will start selling ‘Hwanggeum Sweetness Strawberries’ and ‘Sanjittuksim Strawberries’ from December 3rd to celebrate the strawberry season in winter.

Lotte Mart’s ‘Hwanggeum Sweetness Strawberries’ have about 20% higher sugar content compared to regular strawberries. In particular, the newly introduced ‘Hwanggeum Sweetness Damyang Strawberries’ are cultivated using the fruit thinning farming method, which enhances the overall quality of the product.

The Hwanggeum Sweetness brand is diversifying its varieties, starting with new strawberry breeds such as ‘Vitaberry’ and ‘Geumsil’, and plans to introduce ‘Jukhyang’ and ‘Mary Queen’ as well. Generally, strawberry quality is determined by sugar content and firmness (freshness). The new breeds are products bred by crossing strawberries with high sugar content and those with high firmness, resulting in excellent marketability.

‘Vitaberry’ is characterized by its high firmness and excellent texture, remaining firm even after long refrigerated storage, while ‘Jukhyang’ features a crispy texture combined with sweetness. ‘Geumsil’ and ‘Mary Queen’ are also premium strawberries that have improved both firmness and sugar content, gaining attention.

Additionally, strawberries from the famous production areas of Sancheong and Geochang in Gyeongnam are introduced under the ‘Sanjittuksim Strawberry’ brand, part of the ‘Korea Sanjittuksim’ brand.

This year, strawberry shipments have been delayed by about two weeks compared to last year. This is due to the longest rainy season and frequent typhoons this year, which hindered smooth growth. In this difficult supply situation, prices have also risen; on the 26th, 1kg of premium domestic Seolhyang strawberries was traded at 17,254 KRW at the Garak Wholesale Market, about 40% higher than the same period last year.

In response, Lotte Mart plans to offer these products at prices lower than the market rate starting December 3rd to reduce the burden on customers’ shopping baskets.

Lee Changhyun, Lotte Mart’s Fruit MD (Merchandiser), said, “We are selling strawberries that customers can enjoy without burden during the high-demand season. We will provide products at reasonable prices and take the lead in supplying higher quality strawberries through the Hwanggeum Sweetness and Sanjittuksim brands.”

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