Strawberries, grapes surpass apples in popularity in S. Korea due to consumption convenience

With the growing number of single- or two-person households in South Korea favoring more convenient consumption trends, sales of fruits have been altered which made strawberries and grapes the most popular fruits last year.

According to discount retailer Emart Inc., apples and tangerines, which had topped the sales charts as recently as 2019, dropped to third and fourth place, respectively.

Since apples and tangerines require the skin or peel to be removed, South Korean consumers began preferring strawberries and grapes, which are easier to eat.

Premium strawberries accounted for 37 percent of strawberry sales in South Korea last year.