Lotte Mart said on the 15th it will introduce tropical and subtropical fruits grown in Korea. Bananas from Sinan, South Jeolla, and lemons and grapefruits from Jeju are representative. This follows the rapid northward shift of cultivation zones for tropical and subtropical crops as the Korean Peninsula's climate has become subtropical in recent years. In the past, growing areas were concentrated in Jeju, but they are now expanding nationwide.
The "domestic pesticide-free bananas (3–4 count)" grown in Sinan, South Jeolla, are certified pesticide-free bananas raised in sea breezes. Leveraging the advantages of domestic cultivation, they are harvested after ripening more than 90% on the tree, without early picking for long-distance transport. After ripening at room temperature for only 2–3 days, they turn yellow and offer the banana's distinctive rich sweetness and texture.
The Jeju grapefruit was first harvested from saplings planted three years ago and was introduced for the first time to offline stores among the three major hypermarket chains. Jeju lemons are raw fruit certified under the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) program and can be used in dishes that use the peel. These products are sold at 15 stores nationwide, including the Zettaflex Jamsil store and the Grand Grocery Eunpyeong store.
Bananas and lemons are 5,990 won, and grapefruits are 9,990 won.
A Lotte Mart official said, "To help consumers unfamiliar with domestic tropical and subtropical fruits, we focused on small packages to improve accessibility." Lotte Mart plans to expand sales of domestic tropical and subtropical fruits to all stores in the first half of the year and support broader distribution channels for related farms.
Meanwhile, Lotte Mart will also introduce unique fruits using smart farm technology. The "spring greenhouse figs (5–8 count)," to be launched at the end of this month, will hit the market about five months earlier than the usual season through smart farm cultivation. Preorders for this product will open on the 23rd on Lotte Mart's Zetta online.