Heatflation forces Seoul Milk to halt flagship carrot juice production

(MK DB)

As unseasonal heatwaves disrupt fruit and vegetable yields, Korea’s food sector is facing the real-world impact of “heatflation,” with soaring produce prices forcing production halts and ingredient shifts. Seoul Milk, the dominant player in Korea’s refrigerated juice market, has suspended production of its top-selling “Achim Juice Jeju Carrot” and will switch to U.S.-sourced carrot concentrate for its premium “Black Label ABC Juice,” the company’s high-end line.

According to industry sources on Thursday, the supply of “Achime Juice Jeju Carrot” has been fully halted, with online retailers such as SSG.com showing the product as out of stock.

Achime Juice is a 100 percent natural juice line available in various flavors including orange, carrot, grape, Jeju mandarin, and apple. It has maintained the No. 1 position in Korea’s refrigerated juice segment for 16 consecutive years since 2009.

The decision stems from skyrocketing fruit and vegetable prices, particularly Jeju-grown carrots, a key winter crop. An early heatwave has significantly damaged this year’s yield, causing domestic carrot concentrate prices to nearly triple.

Carrots aren’t the only produce affected. According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), the retail price of a single watermelon surpassed 30,000 won ($21.60) on July 23, reaching 30,884 won — up 24.3 percent from a year earlier and 33.3 percent higher than the average of recent years. Prices are also climbing for other heat-sensitive crops such as radish, napa cabbage, and summer melons.