The popularity of Shine Muscat, the leading grape variety, has waned, and the Kyoho grape is on the rise. The Korea Rural Economic Institute forecasted that the cultivation ratio of Shine Muscat, which had been increasing annually at 31.6% in 2021, 41.4% in 2022, and 43.9% in 2023, would decline to 42.6% this year. This marks the first decrease since it was first distributed in 2014. Meanwhile, the cultivation ratio of Kyoho grapes has rebounded for the first time after the appearance of Shine Muscat, recording 17.8%.

 

Grapes seen at the supermarket are usually tinged with red. However, grapes with a strong red hue are actually of lower quality. Well-ripened grapes with high sugar content are a dark purple-black color.

The quality of the grape is determined by the color of its skin.

The Gobeon maturity color chart developed by the Rural Development Administration classifies the Gobeon growth stage into 10 levels.

It defines appropriate peel colors for each stage. On the color chart, it is judged to be ripe starting from stage 8. If the skin of the seedless grape seen at the mart has a stronger reddish hue than black, it is considered to be at stages 6-7, indicating it is less sweet and of lower quality.

 

There are various reasons why the quality of Geobong is declining.

During the ripening period when sugar content rises rapidly, if there are too many grape clusters hanging on the tree, or

A typical example is the excessive growth of new branches on the grapevine. Since the nutrients available to the tree are dispersed, the sugar content of each bunch does not become sufficiently high, and the coloring process does not proceed smoothly.

 

In fact, the Rural Development Administration stated in a past press release that "Although the color of Geobong grapes is dark purple, some farmers and consumers mistakenly think they are red," and explained that "the cause is either an excessive number of fruits on a single tree or exposure to high temperatures during the ripening period, which prevents the fruit from ripening properly."

 

 

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Fully ripe and high-sugar Kyoho grapes are a deep purple-black color.

I also thought that the grape variety "Geobong" was red in color.

 

I should keep this in mind for my next purchase.