Deputy Minister Gi Jae-1 Visits Garak-dong Market: "Price Stability, Top Policy Priority"

Kim Byung-hwan, the 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, visited the Garak-dong Agricultural and Marine Products Wholesale Market in Seoul on the 14th to observe the apple and pear auction site and met with on-site officials to check the price trends and supply and demand situation of agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables.

The Garak-dong Agricultural Wholesale Market handles 52% of the nationwide production volume of fruits and vegetables. Apples were brought in at an average of 110 tons per day on the 11th and 12th, an increase of 44.7% compared to the previous week, while pears increased by 17.1% and napa cabbage by 17.7%.

Market officials mentioned that fruit prices such as apples and pears continue to be strong due to a decrease in production caused by poor harvests last year, but the supply and demand conditions for vegetables are expected to gradually improve as weather conditions have improved since March.

Vice Minister Kim said, "The government places price stabilization as the top priority of its policy and is promoting the expansion of agricultural product supply through the release of stockpiled quantities and discount supply through support for delivery prices," and urged the wholesale market to actively participate in price stabilization by reducing distribution costs.