Frozen vegetables gain popularity as fresh produce prices remain high

Frozen vegetables are displayed at a supermarket in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

A housewife in her 70s surnamed Kim says she increasingly weighs whether to buy frozen or fresh vegetables when shopping, as fresh produce prices show no signs of letting up.

“I used to doubt the quality of frozen vegetables and never considered buying them, but the high prices of fresh items are reshaping my thinking,” she said, noting that frozen options cost 15 to 20 percent less than fresh.

Kim’s dilemma reflects the growing demand for frozen vegetables amid abnormal weather and high prices for fresh vegetables.

Among major retail chains, Emart saw sales of frozen vegetables rise 1 percent in 2025, while fresh vegetable sales fell 2.5 percent over the same period.

At Lotte Mart, frozen vegetable sales increased 10 percent, while fresh vegetable sales dropped 4 percent.

“The frozen items ranged from broccoli to cabbage, cauliflower and green beans, which a consumer can afford at a lower price,” an industry official said.

The data came as the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT) reported this week on rises in the prices last year of several fresh vegetables, including peeled garlic, which increased 15 percent per kilogram, and onions, which rose 4 percent per kilogram.

“Extreme heat and heavy rains have increased uncertainty in crop yields, causing wider fluctuations in prices of key cooking vegetables,” aT said.

Industry officials said that the growing number of single-person households is also driving demand for frozen vegetables.

In 2025, their number reached 8.05 million, rising from 7 million in 2021. The 2025 figure also accounted for 36.1 percent of all households nationwide, marking the highest proportion ever recorded.

“Under the circumstances, frozen vegetables can be used directly in cooking without peeling or washing, and they can be stored for a long time, helping to reduce food waste,” an official said. “Plus, they help ease the financial burden on households.”