Cracked apples and flavorless grapes: How climate change is reshaping Korean farms and dinner tables

In a small orchard in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province — the southernmost region where apples grow in Korea — farmer Yoon Young-hwan has spent more than half a century tending his trees. But in the past few years, he has witnessed something he never saw before in 53 years of apple farming: perfectly ripened fruit suddenly cracking wide open. "If I had 100 apples last year, about 80 split open. This year I tried everything I could to prevent it, but still about 60 percent cracked," said Yoon, 83. "We call this 'yeolgwa.' When I started farming apples in 1972, this concept didn’t even exist." Fruits splitting in the heat The phenomenon occurs when fruit absorbs water too quickly due to extreme weather shifts — from scorching heat waves to sudden heavy downpours. The fruit’s skin cannot keep pace with the rapid growth, causing it to split. Even when the skin remains intact, prolonged exposure to intense sunlight can cause apples to turn yellow and spoil. Rising spring temperatures also cause blossoms to bloom earlier, leaving them vulnerable to sudden cold snaps. Some farmeWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times