'Geum Sagwa' 10kg Price Surpasses 90,000 Won... Doubles in One Year 'Soars'

The wholesale price of apples has reached 90,000 won per 10 kg for the first time. It has more than doubled in one year.

The prices of fruits, including apples, have skyrocketed, causing an emergency in food prices. Not only consumers trying to buy fruits but also small business owners running fruit shops in the fresh produce market are sighing deeply. On the 12th, the Garak Agricultural Products Market in Songpa-gu, Seoul, showed a quiet scene. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

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According to the agricultural product distribution information from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 13th, the wholesale price of apples (Fuji, premium grade) is 91,500 won per 10 kg. This is a 123.4% increase compared to one year ago. The wholesale price of pears is also soaring, at 102,800 won per 15 kg, a 134% increase from a year ago.

The wholesale price refers to the price at which intermediate wholesalers sell to small retailers and actual consumers. The retail price for apples is 30,105 won per 10 pieces, which is 30.5% higher than a year ago. The retail price for pears is 43,090 won per 10 pieces, up 51% from a year ago.

Last month, the price inflation rate for apples was 71.0%, marking the third highest time it has exceeded 70%. Pears also recorded 61.1%, the highest in 24 years and 5 months since September 1999 (65.5%). Although recent government discount support has helped reduce the rise in retail prices, there are limits to this support, so the possibility of retail prices rising again remains.

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