Last year, cheese prices soared thanks to China's new appetite for pizza. In turn, neighborhood pizzerias raised prices, temporarily dampening sales.
This year, banana and orange prices have skyrocketed. The two fruits were often cheaper than domestic fruit and readily available to consumers as a source of calcium, vitamins and fiber.
But now banana prices, are up 41 percent from a year ago at E-Mart, with 13 kilos costing about 20,000 won, or about 15 dollars. Lotte Mart raised its price per 100 grams by 15 percent to 228 won, higher than elsewhere. Lotte said it couldn't maintain old prices because of rising import costs.
Oranges have become even more expensive. A 15-kilogram case costs 54,500 won, up 82 percent from a year ago.
According to retailers, two factors played a large role in the increase in imported fruit prices.
The plunge in the won was one. But recently, a ``banana diet'' fad has been sweeping Japan.
They said that Japan has increased banana imports from the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries ― exporters of bananas to Korea ― since last year, when the fad started, reducing the amount for Korea to import and contributing to a spike in banana prices, according to retailers.
Japan's banana fever was triggered by an online post by a couple of pharmacists who claim that their diet of eating a couple of bananas for breakfast was an effective and healthy way of losing weight. Their regimen also calls for a generous consumption of water for lunch and a light dinner. Their experience-based diet method was compiled into a book that became a bestseller.
Retailers say that Middle Eastern countries have also increased imports on account of poor harvests, making bananas, a formerly inexpensive fruit, jump in price.
As for expensive oranges, a 30 percent reduction in harvests in California and other producing regions, coupled with a strong dollar, are key factors in price hikes.