Lotte Mart Supports Typhoon-Affected Farms... Launches 'Miryang Farm Support Apples'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Lotte Mart will offer 250 tons of 'Miryang Farm Support Apples' at all stores nationwide until the 4th of next month to help farms affected by the typhoon.

The 'Miryang Farm Support Apples' being introduced this time were planned to assist the Miryang farms in Gyeongnam, which suffered fruit drop damage due to Typhoon Tapah in September last year.

Generally, apples complete their growth and are harvested from July to October. However, in September last year, just before the harvest, Typhoon Tapah struck the southern region, causing significant damage to about 1,200 farms (approximately 16,500 hectares) in Miryang, Gyeongnam, which accounts for about 5% of the nationwide open-field apple production.

In particular, among the Miryang Eulgolgul apple farms, about 900 farms suffered fruit drop damage, and around 120 farms had apple trees toppled, resulting in severe damage. Despite February being the month when most of the annual production should have been sold, sales were sluggish due to the typhoon damage and the apples' imperfect appearance.

To overcome this difficult situation, Lotte Mart purchased 90,000 bags of apples from the typhoon-affected Miryang region in Gyeongnam and actively engaged in supporting the apple farms. From October last year, the harvest period, Lotte Mart collaborated with Miryang City and Miryang Nonghyup for about four months to sell high-grade products during the holiday season.

Subsequently, Lotte Mart took responsibility for purchasing and selling the remaining stock damaged by the typhoon. The Miryang apples introduced this time have only slight surface blemishes, but there are no issues with quality or sweetness. The 'Miryang Farm Support Apples (2.5 kg per bag)' are offered at 5,980 KRW, with a price of 4,980 KRW per bag when purchasing two bags, and 3,980 KRW per bag when purchasing three bags.

Lee Eun-seung, Head of Fresh Food Division at Lotte Mart, said, “This project was planned to help farms struggling due to typhoon damage,” and added, “Lotte Mart will continue to take the lead in actively supporting difficulties faced by production areas.”