Discussion over year-round greenhouse vegetable prices in North Korea

In South Korea, people can eat spinach all year round, but in North Korea, that’s not the case. It used to be very hard to find spinach for sale in the middle of winter. Even in places with large greenhouses - like Pyongyang, South Hamgyong’s Hamhung, and South Pyongan’s Pyongsong - it was exceedingly rare to see people eating spinach in the winter.

During a morning telephone call with an inside source in North Korea a few days ago, a Daily NK reporter became curious when the source said that she was eating a bit of seasoned spinach. She said that North Korea’s greenhouses are now producing spring greens in the winter and that spinach that was planted in January is now available for sale. She also indicated that there would likely be another harvest of the greenhouse spinach before people are able to plant spinach outdoors.

Since the greenhouse spinach costs more than rice, isn’t it financially burdensome for the residents?
"I think that’s fair to say. In Ryanggang Province, Pochon County, one kilogram of spinach costs 7,000 KPW. That is 2,000 KPW more than the cost of rice. Although residents are certainly excited by the prospect of being able to purchase spinach while there is still snow on the ground, it’s certainly an expensive price. Despite this, we are receiving reports that it's selling well.

"The out-of-season produce is a money-maker for the farms because North Koreans are more able and likely to buy the product. For example, parents are buying it for their children on their birthdays. This culminates in a demand that has swept the markets - in Ryanggang Province’s Hyesan City, out-of-season spinach regularly gets sold out as soon as it’s offered up for sale.

"For pregnant women, the spinach is especially popular, with some saying, “Even if it costs 10,000 KPW, I would still buy it!” Pregnant women need iron in their diets, and spinach is a good source of it."

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