Peaches, called the queen of summer fruits, are in season. With warm weather continuing this year and less damage from pests and diseases, production is increasing, and consumers are expected to enjoy peaches at lower prices than in previous years.
According to the Agricultural Outlook Center of the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) on the 16th, this month's peach shipments are expected to increase 15.7% from the same period last year. As shipments rise, prices are projected to be about 20% lower than a year earlier.
◇ A fruit that drives out ghosts and brings longevity
In Taoist mythology, there is a story of a mystical peach said to have been grown by the Queen Mother of the West on Mount Kunlun. The peach tree is said to bloom and bear fruit once every few thousand years, and those who eat the fruit can achieve immortality.
Peaches also appear in Japan's representative folktale "Momotaro." The story goes that an old woman doing laundry in a river found a large peach floating downstream, brought it home, and when she cut it open, a baby boy was born from inside.
In Korea, peaches were also believed to have the power to ward off ghosts and disease. The Sejong Sillok (Veritable Records of King Sejong During the Chosun Dynasty: 1454) records that to prevent epidemics, people bathed every 15th day of each month in water boiled with finely chopped peach branches.
As peaches came to be recognized as fruit that repel ghosts, some traditional ancestral rites developed a custom of not placing peaches on the ceremonial table. The reason was that they could even drive away the spirits of ancestors.
On the Korean Peninsula, peaches are presumed to have been cultivated since ancient times. In Miryang, South Gyeongsang, peach pits estimated to be about 3,000 years old were unearthed. Peaches are recorded as a major fruit in the Joseon-era gazetteer "Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam" and the agricultural text "Haedong Nongseo." In particular, Haedong Nongseo introduces nine varieties, including Modo.
◇ Jochiwon peaches, 118 years of history
Sejong's Jochiwon, Eumseong in North Chungcheong, and Janghowon in Icheon, Gyeonggi, are considered Korea's representative peach-producing regions. Among them, Jochiwon boasts a modern peach-cultivation history spanning 118 years.
Peach farming in Jochiwon began in earnest in 1908. The Gwoneop Mobeomjang, the predecessor of the Rural Development Administration, set up a fruit test plot in Bongsan-ri, Jochiwon-eup, and test-cultivated peach varieties introduced from Japan. As the varieties grown in the test plot spread to nearby farms, Jochiwon grew into a nationwide peach-producing area.
Currently, about 600 farms in Jochiwon produce roughly 2,000 tons of peaches annually.
The Jochiwon Station on the Gyeongbu Line also played a major role in spreading the reputation of Jochiwon peaches nationwide. Because peaches soften quickly after harvest and lose marketability, swift transport is crucial. With major production areas such as Jochiwon-eup and Yeonseo-myeon close to Jochiwon Station, peaches could be shipped quickly to Seoul and key cities across the country.
Even now, wholesalers specializing in peaches continue to operate in the market in front of Jochiwon Station.
◇ How to enjoy them deliciously and safely
Peaches have a high water content, making them good as a snack during the sweltering summer. They contain dietary fiber that can help promote regular bowel movements, as well as vitamins and potassium.
Their refreshing aroma and sweet taste are popular with people of all ages. The flesh is soft, so even older adults with weak teeth can eat them relatively comfortably.
However, for some people, components in the peach fuzz or flesh can trigger allergic reactions. If your lips and mouth itch or swell after touching or eating peaches, or if you develop hives or have trouble breathing, stop consuming them and seek medical care.
It is better to wash peaches just before eating rather than washing them in advance for storage. Because the skin is thin and the water content is high, they soften and spoil more easily than other fruits.
When washing, there is no need to rub the surface hard. Gently rub with your hand under running water to remove dust and fine fuzz, then eat.