ANN/THE KOREA HERALD – South Korea’s fruit consumption has diminished by almost 20 per cent over the past 15 years amid supply shortages and soaring prices, government data found yesterday. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the nation’s per capita fruit consumption declined by 19 per cent to 55 kilogrammes (kg) in 2022 after peaking at 67.9kg in 2007.
Tangerines and apples topped the per capita consumption with 11.8kg and 11kg, respectively, followed by pears (4.4kg), grapes (4.4kg), peaches (3.7kg) and persimmons (1.9kg).
A separate report by the Rural Development Administration said fruit consumption is closely linked to prices as they are often perceived as the least essential food item, whose consumption declines when prices rise.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, consumers reduced spending on agricultural, livestock and fisheries products overall by 1.4 per cent on average.
While livestock purchases declined 0.8 per cent, agricultural products and fruits saw 6.9 per cent and 9.3 per cent declines, respectively.
