Kimchi prices that will change Gimpo's mind? Cabbage, peeled garlic, and ginger prices fall by 50%

■ Broadcast: YTN Radio FM 94.5 (09:00-10:00)
■ Host: Reporter Cho Tae-hyun
■ Air date: November 25, 2024 (Monday)
■ Dialogue: Assistant Manager Won Ji-seon of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

◆ Reporter Cho Tae-hyun (hereinafter referred to as Cho Tae-hyun): It's a week to look at the vivid price information of traditional markets and hypermarkets to find out what the most delicious and cheap seasonal food is, <Shopping Basket Live Price>. Deputy Won Ji-sun of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, I'm calling you. Hello, assistant manager.

◇ Assistant Manager Won Ji-sun of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Won Ji-sun): Hello.

◆ Cho Tae-hyun: It's gotten a lot colder, but I don't think there's an event that burns more weather than agricultural products. How has the price of agricultural products been recently?

◇Gwonjoseon: With the unusual heat wave this year, the number of restaurants that start making kimchi from late November seems to have increased. As the kimchi-making season begins in earnest, vegetables related to kimchi are being kept cheap. In particular, the prices of cabbage, peeled garlic, and ginger have fallen. In the case of cabbage, which is a key ingredient in kimjang, shipments in Chungnam and Honam, which account for 50% of the total cultivation area, began in earnest, and the government continued to support discounts, leading to a sharp drop in wholesale and retail prices. In the case of wholesale prices, it fell about 54% from 7,616 won per pack in October to about 3,460 won as of November. Retail prices also fell 52% from 8,240 won per head in October to 3,895 won in November. For peeled garlic, the price dropped by about 19% from 10,314 won per kilogram in early November to about 8,342 won in mid-November as government stockpiles were supplied to the mart. Ginger, the main item in kimjang, has also become about 40 percent cheaper, from 14,872 won per kilogram in early October to 8,870 won in mid-November, thanks to government discount support.

◆ Cho Tae-hyun: I heard that the prices of cabbage, peeled garlic, and ginger have decreased. What was the price of fruits?

◇The park ship: The price of jujube cherry tomatoes, sweet persimmons, and pineapples decreased for fruits. In the case of jujube cherry tomatoes, prices fell as shipments expanded to the Honam region. It was down about 13.7% from 14,356 won per kilogram last week to 12,389 won this week. Sweet persimmon increased by about 11% in November compared to the previous year. In November last year, it was 15,649 won for 10 units, but this year it fell by about 19% to 12,674 won for 10 units. As the end of the persimmon is approaching, I hope you enjoy it a lot. Pineapple's price fell as imports increased in November due to the impact of allocation tariffs. It was slightly lowered from 7,809 won per piece in October to 6,778 won now.

◆ Cho Tae-hyun: There must have been some items that went up in price, right?

◇원지선:: The items that went up this week include red beans, chives, and water parsley. In the case of red beans, the production of red beans is on the rise this year due to sluggish growth due to high temperatures. For wholesale prices, it has risen by more than 30% from KRW 528,167 to KRW 692,200 in early November for 40kg. The price of chives and water parsley has risen due to increased demand for kimchi-making season. Chives rose about 4.7 percent from 7,284 won per kilogram last week to 7,627 won this week, while water parsley edged up from 1,511 won per 100 grams to 1,594 won per kilogram.

◆ Cho Tae-hyun: Last week, the assistant manager gave us a kimchi event to present red pepper powder, but I heard that the 2nd kimchi event at aT is scheduled this week. What is it about?

◇원지:선: Yes, I'm bragging about my Kimchi Kimchi Tips from November 27 to December 9. Each house will have a good tip to put delicious kimchi. Please show off our unique kimchi honey team on Instagram or aT blog in the comments. A total of 30 people will be given red pepper powder through a lottery. Please show a lot of interest and participation, and I would appreciate it if you could refer to aT Instagram and blog for more information.

◆ Cho Tae-hyun: If you missed the last event, I think it would be good to participate in the second kimchi-making event and receive a prize. Lastly, what seasonal agricultural and fishery products can I recommend this week?

◇Gwonjoseon: It's the main ingredient for the kimchi-making season, but it's an agricultural product that you usually enjoy because of its pungent taste. It's chives. Chives go especially well with meat. When consumed with meat, it not only helps digestion but also lowers cholesterol levels. When choosing chives, choose the one that has a vivid color and a green color. When storing, it must be wrapped in newspaper with soil on it and refrigerated to store it for a long time. Please note that chives are high in phosphorus and sulfur, so please avoid eating them together because they interfere with the absorption of calcium in seaweed. Allicin, which has the unique spicy taste of chives, has a strong sterilizing effect to enhance immunity. These days, as the weather is getting colder, I hope you have a healthy time enjoying chives not only kimchi but also various other things. I just introduced aT blog how to make rice with delicious sobo using chives, so you can make it yourself this week.

◆ Cho Tae-hyun: Until now, I was Won Ji-sun, deputy director of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. Mr. Assistant Manager, thank you for talking today as well.