Lotte Mart said on the 12th that it will move up sales of early-summer seasonal produce compared with previous years to capture demand for the season.
Lotte Mart began selling "Gangwon glutinous tomatoes (1.8 kg, domestic)" in late April. That is about four weeks earlier than last year. Warmer weather and increased sunlight accelerated tomato growth.
Lotte Mart preemptively secured initial volumes in collaboration with local NongHyup and is currently selling at about 70 stores. Starting on the 21st, it will expand operations to all stores and also introduce bulk products.
Super-sweet corn sales also started early. Lotte Mart plans to begin selling "super-sweet corn (each, domestic)" on the 14th of this month, with this year's prepared volume at about 250,000 ears, up roughly 20% from last year.
This year, warmer weather moved up the shipping time from key producing areas such as Uiryeong by about four to five days compared with last year. Lotte Mart said it is securing a stable supply chain by diversifying production areas beyond Miryang and Uiryeong to Jeju, Haenam in South Jeolla, and Goesan in North Chungcheong.
With recent temperature rises and more sunlight pushing up shipping times for key produce, competition in the retail sector for the early season is spreading. In fact, Busan Daejeo tomatoes began shipping in early February this year, a month earlier than the average year, and watermelons also hit shelves a week early.
As demand moves up, prices are also climbing. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) Korea Agricultural Marketing Information Service (KAMIS), as of the 8th, the retail price of watermelon was 30,132 won, up 39.4% from the average year and 33.1% from a year earlier. The price of oriental melons (10-count pack) was 22,435 won, up 6.6% from the same period last year.