Fruit Still Expensive... Why You Should Eat This Fruit This Winter

"Tangerine supply increases, prices expected to fall"

"This year, due to the heatwave and other factors, the shipment of tangerines has been somewhat delayed, but the supply is expected to increase and prices are expected to be slightly lower." (Kim Sangyeop, Head of Tangerine Distribution, Jeju Province)

On the 14th, I visited the Namwon Tangerine Regional Distribution Center in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo, the largest tangerine-producing area in Jeju. Upon entering the distribution center, tangerines delivered that day were undergoing the sorting process.

On the 14th, tangerine sorting work was underway at the Namwon Tangerine Hub Production and Distribution Center. (Photo by Joint Press Corps)

The center is equipped with a non-destructive sugar-acid measurement sorting line for automatic tangerine sorting, a cold storage facility to maintain freshness, and a box-making room to produce boxes according to tangerine size. The center ensures high-quality tangerines through the process from receiving to commercialization. First, after shipment consultations with farmers, the tangerines undergo sugar content and acidity tests in the inspection room. The delivered tangerines are sorted by farm and the main sorting process begins. In the first sorting process, rotten tangerines are removed, followed by washing and drying, and then a second visual inspection is conducted. After that, the non-destructive sugar-acid measurement sorting line automatically classifies tangerines by sugar content, acidity, and weight.

The sorting line is equipped with 16 shape cameras and 8 non-destructive optical sensors. As tangerines pass through, the shape cameras measure size and color, while the optical sensors assess sugar content and acidity. The tangerines, sorted by sugar-acid content and weight, are automatically packed into custom-made boxes by grade. At the Namwon Center, the fully automated sorting system processes 15,000 tons annually, or 100 tons per day.

On the 14th, tangerine sorting work was underway at the Namwon Tangerine Hub Production and Distribution Center. (Photo by Joint Press Corps)

However, only about 56 tons were sorted that day. This is the result of shipment delays caused by this year's summer heatwave and heavy rain. Hyun Jongho, manager of Namwon Agricultural Cooperative Distribution Center (Regional APC), explained, "Currently, the early tangerine harvest is over and the main tangerine harvest is underway, but the quantity is still not as much as last year. The heatwave and heavy rain have delayed the shipping period."

A Jeju Province official said, "The average temperature from July to September this year was 28 degrees Celsius, higher than last year's 25 degrees, and the number of days with heatwaves above 33 degrees jumped to 21.4 days. Tangerines grow rapidly from August to September and turn yellow when nighttime temperatures drop below 20 degrees, but this year, abnormal weather delayed the coloring process."

Accordingly, Jeju Province eased the coloring standard by ordinance in October this year to increase shipments. As a result, open-field tangerine shipments are expected to increase from 398,000 tons in 2023 to 408,000 tons this year. Kim said, "Despite a decrease in open-field tangerine production, we expect a slight increase in shipments compared to last year due to the revised tangerine ordinance. However, due to frequent rain causing poor coloring and appearance, prices are expected to be slightly lower than last year." According to Jeju Province, the average wholesale price for 2024 open-field tangerines at the nine major wholesale markets is 9,748 won per 5kg, a 2% drop from last year.

11th '2024 Jeju International Tangerine Expo'... Attracts 100,000 visitors nationwide

Jeju Province is holding the '2024 Jeju International Tangerine Expo' from the 13th to the 19th of this month at the Seogwipo Agricultural Technology Center, coinciding with the peak open-field tangerine shipping season. The event features an opening ceremony, buyer meetings, live commerce, special sales exhibitions, product evaluations, and exhibitions of autonomous agricultural machinery and advanced agricultural materials.

On the 14th, Byungki Ko, Chairman of the Jeju International Citrus Expo Organizing Committee, is explaining the expo.

Ko Byungki, Chairman of the Jeju International Tangerine Expo Organizing Committee, said, "It is no exaggeration to say that tangerines drive Jeju's local economy. That is how important tangerines are to Jeju. We have been holding the expo annually for 11 years to promote Jeju tangerines during the harvest season and link it to exports."

He added, "The Tangerine Expo not only attracts tourists, but also provides farmers with opportunities to experience and check out agricultural machinery and materials on display. The expo has a significant impact on logistics, materials companies, fertilizer and pesticide businesses, and the direct and indirect ripple effect is expected to exceed 100 billion won annually."

Responding to climate change with pilot cultivation of subtropical crops like papaya and dragon fruit

Following the Tangerine Expo and Namwon Tangerine APC, on the 15th, I visited the Rural Development Administration's Climate Change Response Agriculture Research Center. This center was officially launched in 2015, changing its name from the Warm Region Agricultural Research Center to the Climate Change Response Agriculture Research Center, to create new demand for subtropical crops like papaya and dragon fruit and to seek ways to respond to climate change.

At the research center, I was able to directly observe the cultivation of representative subtropical fruit crops such as dragon fruit and papaya. Han Hyunhee, a researcher at the Climate Change Response Agriculture Research Center, emphasized, "As climate change is expected to reduce the cultivation area of existing crops, it is necessary to develop new varieties and overcoming technologies for these crops. In addition, research and expansion of cultivation technologies for subtropical crops suitable for subtropical climates, whose cultivation areas are expected to expand, must be supported."

Papaya (left) and dragon fruit being pilot cultivated at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Climate Change Adaptation, visited on the 15th.

Last year was remembered as a year of record-breaking heat in Korea's meteorological history. Spring temperatures were the highest ever, and July 7 was recorded as the hottest day globally since observations began in 1979. The heatwave was even more severe this year. The heat was so intense that heatwave warnings were issued until mid-September, and the autumn was so hot that "Chuseok" was called "Haseok," meaning a scorching autumn. These changes are having a major impact on agriculture. In particular, crops grown outdoors are more affected by climate change than those grown in facilities.

The import volume and cultivation area of subtropical crops in Korea are steadily increasing. Mango imports were about 10,000 tons in 2014, but more than doubled to about 27,000 tons in 2023. By October 2024, imports reached 31,000 tons, showing steady growth in domestic consumer demand. As of 2023, excluding figs and other crops already cultivated domestically, newly introduced and cultivated subtropical vegetables covered 135.5 ha, and fruit crops covered 221.1 ha. While vegetable cultivation area decreased from 198.2 ha in 2018, fruit crop area increased 1.9 times from 117.2 ha during the same period.

A research center official explained, "Subtropical crop cultivation is likely to become a major pillar of domestic agriculture in the future. The center is conducting research to establish a system that continuously monitors and responds to changes in the agricultural environment due to climate change, as well as pest and disease response strategies for new crop introductions and cultivation."

The Climate Change Response Agriculture Research Center has introduced 58 subtropical crops so far to select those suitable for Korea's environment, and has selected 17 promising crops. Among vegetables: bitter melon, turmeric, water spinach (Kongsimchae), yam bean, okra, chayote, artichoke, and long bean. Among fruit crops: mango, olive, passion fruit, papaya, dragon fruit, feijoa, avocado, lychee, and coffee. The center is selecting and distributing varieties suitable for domestic cultivation as these crops become more widely grown.