Lettuce and Other Vegetable Prices Rise Due to Heavy Rain... "Prices Will Stabilize No Earlier Than September"

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Trends and Outlook on Supply and Demand of Major Agricultural and Livestock Products
Request for Price Stabilization Cooperation on Vegetables from Major Retailers
Promotion of Supply Expansion through Stockpiling, Contract Farming, and Import Measures, and Expansion of Consumer Discount Support

Due to heavy concentrated rainfall, prices of some greenhouse vegetables such as lettuce are showing strength. This is because many areas in major shipping regions suffered facility flooding damage, making shipment impossible. The price strength is expected to continue until early next month, before the newly planted seedlings are harvested and shipped.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 2nd, the consumer price index for agricultural and livestock products in July fell by 1.5% compared to the same month last year.

Although the price index for agricultural and livestock products declined, prices of greenhouse vegetables severely affected by the heavy rain surged. Compared to the previous month, lettuce prices rose by 83.3%. Prices of spinach (66.9%), cucumber (23.2%), tomato (10.2%), green onion (9.7%), young radish leaves (55.3%), and napa cabbage (6.1%) also increased.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, lettuce prices are expected to remain strong until the shipment of replanted seedlings begins (approximately 30 days after planting), due to many areas in the main shipping regions of Nonsan and Iksan being flooded and unable to ship. Even if replanting is done immediately, the corresponding volume will only be supplied to the market in September.

The heatwave continuing after the rainy season is an important variable for greenhouse vegetable production in August. During high temperatures, crop respiration intensifies and photosynthesis decreases, leading to poor growth. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause irreversible damage to crops. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is encouraging early shipment of greenhouse vegetables through shipment incentives in August and is focusing on providing technical guidance for stable production during the hot season in cooperation with the Nonghyup and the Rural Development Administration. In particular, part of the planting costs will be supported to expedite replanting for farmers affected by lettuce flooding in greenhouses.

Due to a decrease in the cultivation area of summer napa cabbage, shipments in July decreased by 7.4% compared to the previous year (based on Garak Market). However, wholesale prices were 42.8% lower than the previous year due to increased storage of spring napa cabbage by large demand sectors such as kimchi manufacturers (40% increase compared to the previous year) and reduced demand for summer napa cabbage. Supply in August is expected to decrease by 7% compared to the previous year, and if diseases such as soft rot rapidly spread due to the recent hot and humid climate, shipments are expected to decrease further. Accordingly, the government plans to thoroughly implement pest control measures in cooperation with Nonghyup, the Rural Development Administration, and city/county technical centers, and if supply-demand instability occurs, it will release stored spring napa cabbage (8,600 tons as of July 31) intensively into the wholesale market.

Among livestock products, prices of Korean beef, pork, and eggs remain stable except for chicken. Chicken prices are high due to demand for health foods in summer. However, after the Jungbok holiday (July 21), demand decreased and wholesale prices turned downward. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs expects prices to gradually stabilize as supply increases through expanded stocking by affiliated companies.

Kim Jong-gu, Director of Distribution and Consumption Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Although prices of some greenhouse vegetables such as lettuce are strong due to heavy rainfall, prices are gradually stabilizing as supply conditions improve. We hope that distribution sectors such as large supermarkets will refrain from excessive price increases and strive for price stability by promoting their own discount events." He added, "The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will closely monitor supply and demand trends daily in response to adverse weather such as heatwaves, expand supply through stockpiling, contract cultivation, and import measures, and continue to support discounts to reduce consumer burden, making every effort to stabilize summer grocery prices."

(Photo)

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