Mandarin oranges harvest in full swing from vinyl greenhouses on Jeju island

Back on the local front.

Jeju Island's greenhouse cultivation of citrus fruits including the mandarin is pledging another season of sweet-tasting oranges despite the sweltering heat.

Cha Yun-kyung has details.

The mandarin orange harvest is in full swing from vinyl greenhouses on Jeju Island.

The oranges are yellow colored when daily temperature differences are large.

That is why those from greenhouses mostly look green, especially in summer with lower temperature differences.

Although the color is not a perfect yellow, the oranges' sugar content and quality are excellent.

The abnormal weather the island has experienced this year has, however, delayed the harvesting season.

Production is projected to be 26-thousand tons, which is 1-point-6 percent less than last year.

However, the price is similar to last year, 25-thousand Korean won, around 18-point-4 U.S. dollars, for a 3 kilogram box.

The farmers expect consumers to buy more of the produce.

"Since we did our best to harvest the oranges, we hope that more consumers buy them."

The sugar content of oranges from greenhouses this year is higher than usual at 10 to 12 Brix.

Their high vitamin C content will help consumers overcome fatigue and maintain a healthy immune system.

The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation stresses that it harvests fresh and high-quality oranges only.

"We harvest fresh oranges only and ship them within two to three days, so our consumers should not worry about their quality at all."

The NACF and farmers expect consumers will enjoy more oranges from Jeju Island this summer.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.