If you're planning grocery shopping this weekend, head to the fruit and vegetable section. As the government's expanded supply of Chuseok holiday essentials and large-scale discount support begin to show full effect, items with prices down sharply from the same period last year stand out. By making active use of information on in-season fruits and vegetables whose prices have plunged, you can enjoy weekend shopping that delivers both taste and value.
According to major consumer price trend data for agricultural and livestock products from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 13th, prices of representative in-season fruits and vegetables fell sharply year over year in step with the government's price stabilization measures. The price for 10 apples (Hongro) is 23,009 won, down 25.9% from 31,036 won in the same period last year.
Pears (Wonhwang) are 25,402 won for 10 premium pieces, down 10.8% from 30,282 won in the same period last year and 8.5% from 27,769 won last month. Korean melons are 17,086 won for 10, down 21.2% from 21,681 won a year earlier.
Vegetables have also seen perceived prices fall further in tandem with the government's budget support for discounts on agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products. Cabbage, a summer table staple, is 2,673 won per head, 24.9% cheaper than 3,560 won a year earlier.
Cherry tomatoes (daechu) are 8,251 won for 1.3 kilograms, down 23.4% from 10,774 won a year ago, and regular tomatoes are 6,016 won per kilogram, down 12.3% from 6,860 won in the same period. Fresh wrap greens lettuce (green) 100 grams (premium) is 2,404 won, down 10.8%.
Cucumbers (dadegi) are 11,452 won for 10, down 11% from 12,867 won in the same period last year. Green onions are also down 8.3% to 2,649 won per kilogram. Potato and sweet potato prices are down 18% to 20%.
However, some items have risen sharply, making them harder to pick. Zucchini is 2,791 won each, up 64.1% from the same period, carrot is 3,947 won per kilogram, up 6%, and perilla leaves are 1,660 won per 100 grams, up 4.3%. Spinach, napa cabbage, and radish are cheaper than last year, but compared with last month, they are up about 10% to 20%.
In contrast to the welcome decline in prices for in-season fruits and vegetables, prices for major livestock products such as beef and pork remain elevated. According to price trends, premium Korean beef, known as hanwoo sirloin (Grade 1, 1 kilogram) is 112,000 won, up 18.6% from 94,400 won a year earlier, and pork is 30,040 won per kilogram for chilled pork belly, up 4.2% from 28,840 won last year.
Chicken cut-up meat is 7,883 won per kilogram, down 17.8% from the same period. With beef and pork prices still burdensome, it seems wise to hold off on buying meat right now, carefully check government-supported discount events, or wait until prices stabilize.
An official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "As the government has significantly increased supplies of holiday staples for Chuseok and devoted full efforts to discount support for agricultural, livestock, and fisheries products, on-site prices are stabilizing," adding, "With favorable weather conditions this summer, shipments of major agricultural products have increased, leading to price stabilization."