Food prices surge as extreme weather, consumption vouchers deepen supply-demand gap

Food prices are climbing sharply in Korea as supply struggles to keep pace with rising demand, government officials and market observers said Thursday. While extreme weather conditions this summer — including torrential rains and heat waves — have disrupted the production of agricultural, livestock and fishery products, demand has surged following the distribution of government-issued voucher-based cash handouts, they added. According to data from the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, the retail price of a head of napa cabbage reached 6,349 won ($4.60) as of Tuesday, a 74.7 percent spike from 3,639 won a month earlier, driven by a decline in yields due to the summer heat. Spinach prices soared 81.1 percent to 2,109 won per 100 grams over the past month. Other key vegetables have also seen significant increases, with cabbage prices rising 23.2 percent, the price of 100 grams of lettuce climbing 38.8 percent and radish prices increasing by 29.7 percent. As for fruit, a bundle of 10 apples was priced at 31,061 won as of Tuesday, marking a 7.7 percent increase from 28,826 woWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times