"Lettuce Disappears from Restaurants" The Terrifying Rise in Vegetable Prices

Lettuce and Perilla Leaves Prices More Than Double Compared to Average
Lettuce Prices Soar, Deepening Self-Employed Struggles
Prolonged High Temperatures Cause Poor Harvests and Price Increases

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Prices of vegetables such as lettuce and perilla leaves are soaring. Amid rising inflation rates exceeding 6% and increasing price burdens, the recent heatwaves and monsoon rains since last month have led to poor crop yields, causing distress not only for self-employed business owners but also for consumers.

A, a self-employed business owner running a meat restaurant in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, feels uneasy watching lettuce being served to customers as the price of wrapping vegetables rises daily. He lamented, "I haven't noticeably reduced the amount provided because I'm afraid of being called stingy." He added, "I want to stock up as much as possible when prices are low, as long as the refrigerator allows, but since lettuce spoils easily, I can't just buy in bulk. I feel the price increases every time and purchase accordingly."

Consumers are also dissatisfied with the soaring vegetable prices. B, a worker in their 30s, recently paid an additional 3,000 won for wrapping vegetables when ordering jokbal (pig's trotters) delivery, but the food received contained only three leaves each of lettuce and perilla leaves, along with a small amount of pickled radish wraps. B said, "Although vegetable prices are high these days, I paid extra beyond the basic provision, so this seems excessive. I feel deceived."

According to the Agricultural Products Distribution Information (KAMIS) system of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) on the 14th, the average wholesale price of 4kg of red leaf lettuce was recorded at 55,820 won. This is more than 2.5 times higher compared to a month ago (20,732 won) and nearly double the average price in previous years (29,830 won). However, it is more than 20% lower than the price five days ago on the 8th (72,820 won).

The same applies to green leaf lettuce. The average wholesale price of 4kg of green leaf lettuce was 63,920 won the day before, more than twice the usual price (28,172 won). Due to the surge in lettuce prices, perilla leaves are also not a viable alternative. During the same period, the average wholesale price of 2kg of perilla leaves was 32,080 won, which is over 30% higher than both the usual price (17,006 won) and the price a month ago (24,228 won).

The recent surge in lettuce prices is due to poor crop yields caused by sustained high temperatures exceeding 30℃. Lettuce is a cold-weather crop with an optimal growing temperature of 15?20℃, and production generally decreases as summer temperatures rise, leading to price increases. This year, the prolonged high temperatures since June have resulted in poor yields and higher prices than usual. Perilla leaves have an optimal growing temperature of 20?30℃, higher than lettuce, but recent continuous rain and cloud cover have reduced sunlight, delaying growth.

The government has also begun monitoring the supply and demand situation for lettuce and perilla leaves. On the 11th, Kim In-jung, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, visited lettuce and perilla leaf production sites and distribution facilities in Chubu-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam Province, urging, "Since supply has recently decreased rapidly, please put more effort into growth management." He also visited the Maninsan Nonghyup Agricultural Product Distribution Center (APC), which handles over 40% of the nation's perilla leaf production, stating, "We will strengthen government support for production and distribution, including expanding well-established production and processing systems at the APC."