Food Shortage in North Korea? Greenhouse Vegetables to the Rescue

Posted by Greenhouse Grower Staff|January 29, 2020

The latest population estimates for North Korea is nearly 26 million people and counting. Feeding any large contingent is a challenge. It’s a growing global concern. According to recent reports from the Daily NK, the country is seeking to overcome food shortages by expanding its greenhouse vegetable and fruit production.

Fresh produce that was once only seasonal in North Korea, such as Haeju strawberries, Napa cabbage, Korean radish, cucumber, eggplant, and more, can now be found year-round in many local markets — thanks to controlled environment growing.

The Daily NK goes onto report that of the many vegetables cultivated in greenhouses, garlic chives are one of the most popular. “Garlic chives grown in Pyongsong, Pyongyang, and Yangdok County are popular in the markets,” a Pyongyang-based source recently stated. “North Koreans have a lot of dumplings to celebrate the new year, the Great Full Moon [first full moon of the lunar new year] and Kim Jong Il’s birthday [Jan. 8]. Dumplings taste so much better with garlic chives in them.”

To read the full story, go to DailyNK.com.