Tropical fruits bloom on Jeju

/Korea Times file

Korea is growing more Southeast Asian tropical fruits on Jeju Island because of rising temperatures attributed to global warming.

According to data from the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Agricultural Research & Extension Services, the average daily temperature and minimun temperature of July and August rose 1 degrees Celsius from 1931 to 2005. Average daily rainfall also rose by 95 mililiters from 1951 to 2007.

The same source also shows nine tropical fruits were grown on 37.5 hectares of 91 farms in 2013.

Mangoes led with 311 tons grown on 24.9 hectares of 51 farms. Dragonfruit followed with 78 tons on 3.9 hectares of 15 farms. Other fruits grown on Jeju include avocados, guavas, bananas, pineapples and passion fruit.

The fruits are also grown along the southern coastal regions of the peninsula such as Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, and Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, but most are grown on Jeju.