Spinach Prices Surge 206%... Unprecedented Heavy Rain Sparks Emergency in Food Costs

Prices of Agricultural Products Such as Spinach, Lettuce, and Baechu Rise
"Upward Trend to Continue for the Time Being"

Last weekend's torrential rains have caused fluctuations in agricultural product prices nationwide. There are concerns that the already high "table prices" will be further stimulated by the unprecedented heavy rain.

According to the Agricultural Products Distribution Information (KAMIS) of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation on the 17th, the wholesale price of spinach (4 kg) surged by 206.5% to 43,080 won compared to the previous month (14,056 won). In addition, prices of almost all agricultural products rose significantly compared to the previous month, including lettuce (4 kg) by 124.9%, napa cabbage (10 kg) by 32.8%, cucumber (10 kg) by 31.9%, green onion (1 kg) by 19.5%, and perilla leaves (2 kg) by 14%.

Experts predict that the already high prices of agricultural products during the rainy season have risen even more rapidly due to this heavy rain. During the rainy season, when humidity is high and sunlight is insufficient, vegetable prices inevitably tend to rise, and the concentrated heavy rain has caused prices to increase even more steeply. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 17th, the area of farmland damaged by crop flooding and fruit drop reported from the 10th to the 16th was calculated at 19,927 hectares. By region, Jeonbuk had the largest area at 9,796.4 hectares, followed by Chungnam (7,163.2 hectares) and Gyeongbuk (1,562.7 hectares).

Farmers are looking at the vinyl greenhouse submerged in water due to the heavy rain that fell overnight last weekend.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation forecasts that agricultural product prices will not decrease as long as the rain continues. The corporation stated, "Due to poor shipment operations during the rainy season, the volume of incoming goods has decreased, leading to a shortage of supply in the market and a significant rise in prices of agricultural products such as spinach," adding, "As the rainy season is expected to continue for the time being, agricultural product prices are analyzed to maintain a strong upward trend for the time being."

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