Nationwide Largest 'Baechu' Production Area Haenam-gun Fields in Full Harvest Season

Cabbage Prices Rise Due to Cold Wave and Poor Crop Yield from Murmbyeong Disease

Cabbage harvested from the fields of Hwangsan-myeon, Haenam-gun ⓒ Asia Economy

[Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] The cabbage cultivation area in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do this year is estimated to be 4,752 hectares, a decrease of 243 hectares (4.8%) compared to the previous year. Among these, autumn cabbage accounts for 2,414 hectares, and winter cabbage reaches 2,338 hectares.

While the cabbage cultivation area has slightly decreased this year due to last year's poor cabbage prices, prices have been on the rise as the volume of imports from China has decreased.

According to data from the Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation, as of last month, the wholesale price for 10 kg of cabbage per product recorded around 11,000 KRW, forming a price higher than the average 6,857 KRW and last year's 7,491 KRW.

Additionally, this year, the kimchi-making season in the metropolitan area started about a week earlier than usual, from the first week of November, causing supply to fall short of demand.

In particular, as the kimchi-making culture has shifted to smaller scale, orders for salted cabbage surged.

As of December 2, the salted cabbage sales volume on Haenam-gun’s online shopping mall ‘Haenam Miso’ reached 22,255 boxes (based on 20 kg), recording about 760 million KRW in sales.

With the full-scale kimchi-making season underway, salted cabbage from clean Haenam is enjoying peak popularity. Orders are still piling up to the extent that if you order now, you can expect delivery in about a week.

Haenam Hwawon Nonghyup is performing washing work at the kimchi processing plant. Photo by Asia Economy

The kimchi processing factory operated by Haenam Hwawon Nonghyup usually employs 70 workers, but during the kimchi-making season, the workforce increases to 100, yet demand still cannot be met.

Jung Jae-kyung, head of the Hwawon Nonghyup kimchi factory, stated, “In the second and third weeks of last month, we were only able to supply about 60 to 70% of the orders,” adding, “Since the fourth week of last month, when kimchi-making was somewhat completed, supply has been smooth.”

Currently, about 80% of the autumn cabbage in Haenam has been harvested, and winter cabbage will be shipped until March next year.

At a cabbage shipping site in Hwangsan-myeon fields, Haenam-gun, Mr. Jung (50), whom we met on-site, said, “We started work at 5 a.m.,” and added, “We have to finish work by 4 p.m. to arrive at the Garak-dong Agricultural and Marine Products Market in Seoul by 10 p.m. to participate in the auction,” showing his dedication to the work.

Mr. Jung said, “Labor costs have increased by 20,000 to 30,000 KRW compared to previous years, but without foreign workers, harvesting would be impossible,” and “Although cabbage prices have risen nearly 50% compared to last year, it has been difficult to find workers, causing delays in harvesting.”

He expressed a tough look, saying, “The soft rot disease that causes cabbage roots to rot has spread, and a cold snap in October caused many cabbages not to be fully filled, reducing the harvest volume, so income has not increased significantly,” and “Whereas 300 pyeong (approx. 991 sq meters) of cabbage field was enough to fill a 5-ton truck before, this year I have to work on 500 pyeong.”

An official from Haenam-gun explained, “Haenam cabbage does not easily spoil, grows in loess soil exposed to sea breeze, and is rich in nutrients, making it highly preferred by consumers compared to cabbages from other regions.”

He added, “The truly delicious cabbage is the one shipped in December when frost begins to fall,” and recommended late kimchi-making, saying, “If you make kimchi a little later, you can enjoy even tastier cabbage.”

Myung Hyun-gwan, mayor of Haenam-gun, said, “Consumer trust in the high-quality Haenam cabbage, which has nationwide fame, is leading to the popularity of salted cabbage,” and added, “Due to the high popularity of Haenam cabbage, there are concerns about cases of origin fraud, so we hope consumers choose trustworthy companies and carefully check compliance with production standards when purchasing salted cabbage.”

Haenam＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun kh0424@asiae.co.kr