베리 insights

The Farmers' Union denounces the "severe crisis" that wine grape producers in the Valencian Community are experiencing this harvest season with prices.

(Jeju=Yonhap News) Reporter Go Seong-sik = This summer, a large number of cases of heat cracking (fruit bursting) in Jeju's mangium, specifically the Red Hyang, occurred due to the heatwave. According to the Jeju Agricultural Technology Institute on the 25th, as of the 23rd, the cumulative heat cracking rate for Red Hyang was 25.1%, approaching last year's 27.2% at the same time. Last summer and autumn, the overall heat cracking rate reached 35.8% due to the heatwave. In Japan, it was reported that 20-60% of heat cracking occurred in open-field cultivation, and 21.7% in facility cultivation. Heat cracking damage, which occurs from the beginning of August to the end of October, stems from the imbalance in the growth of the Red Hyang's peel and flesh. When the peel temperature rises in strong sunlight, the peel becomes thinner due to reduced moisture, while the flesh continues to grow, causing the flesh to become larger compared to the peel, leading to the peel cracking. This phenomenon increases during the heatwave in August and September, as the reduced moisture in the peel, which thins due to the heatwave, leads to an increase in heat cracking. The Jeju Agricultural Technology Institute proposed measures to reduce heat cracking damage, including the installation of shading nets in greenhouses, the use of thermal curtains and shading agents, the operation of heat pumps for cooling, the use of ventilation fans, fine watering between 4 and 5 PM, and soil moisture management. They also explained that preventing sudden oversupply of water, avoiding high temperatures in facilities, and maintaining healthy irrigation for appropriate fruit setting are important. The Jeju Agricultural Technology Institute is analyzing cases of farms with low heat cracking occurrence and conducting research on a smart environmental control technology model to determine the correlation between the growth environment and heat cracking occurrence in each farm. They also plan to investigate trends and damage reduction cases of heat cracking in Red Hyang from abroad and operate a pilot project and a comprehensive technology demonstration site to improve the facility environment for high temperatures next year. koss@yna.co.kr

Core tip: When post-95s start tossing goji berries into their milk tea, and when post-00s stay up late while stockpiling melatonin gummies, plant-based functional foods are no longer just the "health pills" in their parents' drawers. They are wrapped in the guise of snacks, hiding the essence of plants, and are quietly taking over the "health KPIs" of young people. Today, let's uncover how much "money landscape" and "quirks" this market, which has both capital and food enthusiasts going crazy, actually holds.