South Korea Fresh Tomato insights

Tomato prices have dropped slightly, but are still strong. On the 21st, tomatoes were traded at an average of 32,790 won per 5kg box at Garak Market in Seoul. It is 4.5% lower than the average in October last year (34,322 won) and 17.9% higher than the average in October (27,806 won). It has dropped slightly compared to the late 50,000 won to early 60,000 won range in the second week of this month (7th to 13th). The main reason for the strong price is poor crop yields due to the heat wave. The production area moves from Gangwon to Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam in mid-October. Therefore, there may be a temporary gap in shipments. This year, the gap in shipments was greater due to poor growth caused by the heat wave in September. Park Jun-gyu, an auctioneer at Dongwha Fruit and Vegetables, said, “The poor harvest in Gangwon Province is serious, so shipments ended earlier than expected.” The amount of tomatoes brought into Garak Market from the 7th to the 13th was 423 tons, down 14.9% from the same period last year (497 tons). However, shipments began from Jangsu, Jeollabuk-do and Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, and the supply shortage was somewhat alleviated. The amount brought into Garak Market from the 14th to the 20th was 573 tons, similar to last year (568 tons). Prices are expected to remain strong for the time being. Park predicted, “The quality of the initial quantity from Jangsu, Hwasun, and other places is excellent, and demand from the restaurant and distribution industry is solid, so prices will remain in the early to mid-30,000 won range for the time being.”

The Rural Development Administration announced on the 22nd that it will strengthen intensive management and farming guidance to prevent and block the spread of tomato hornworm as the fall cropping season for greenhouse tomatoes begins.  The Rural Development Administration will collaborate with provincial agricultural technology centers and city/county agricultural technology centers across the country to provide tomato hornworm forecasting and control methods to tomato farms nationwide for three weeks starting on the 21st of this month.  Through this, the plan is to provide information on tomato hornworm characteristics, damage patterns, facility management to prevent the influx of adults, and management techniques when pests are found, and support rapid response in farming fields.  The Rural Development Administration will also conduct a nationwide tomato hornworm individual distribution survey until November to check the occurrence status and density by city/county. If tomato hornworms are found during the survey, on-site guidance will be provided to farms and immediate control will be implemented. From December of this year to February of next year, a survey will also be conducted to confirm whether tomato hornworms have hibernated in Korea.  Tomato hornworms damage crops by drilling holes in plant tissues such as stems and fruits as larvae hatch from eggs and grow. If the larvae do not control them in time and the density of larvae increases, the damage can be very severe, so concentrated forecasting and control are important before and during the growing season.  Regularly check for tomato hornworms using forecast traps and sticky traps, and immediately apply pesticides in accordance with safety standards upon discovery. Eco-friendly farms that cannot use pesticides should install insect screens (less than 1.6mm in width and length) and use mating disruption agents and organic farming materials from the beginning of cultivation.  Chae Ui-seok, head of the Disaster Response Division at the Rural Development Administration, said, “In order to minimize tomato hornworm damage, we should focus on forecasting and control at the very beginning of the planting season, and farms that discover pests should report to the relevant city/county agricultural technology center and receive farming guidance related to forecasting and control.”

With the kimchi season about two weeks away, prices of kimchi vegetables such as cabbage and radish have been found to be higher than a year ago.