The average retail price of a 2-kilogram box of large-grade Shine Muscat grapes in South Korea fell to 11,791 won as of the 1st, down 20.3% from a year earlier, the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) said on the 4th. The price was 49.3% below the normal-year benchmark, calculated as the three-year average from 2021 through last year after excluding the highest and lowest figures, and about 71% below the 38,000 won recorded during the same period five years ago. Shine Muscat also sold for less than Kyoho and Campbell Early grapes. Rapid acreage expansion has created oversupply, while early harvesting has triggered complaints about sweetness and quality. The Korea Rural Economic Institute found that 37.5% of consumers who had bought Shine Muscat said its quality had worsened, compared with 24.4% who said it had improved. The institute recommends minimum sweetness standards at shipment, restrictions on early deliveries, and improved quality-control technology at regional distribution centers. The Korea Grape Association is urging growers to ship bunches weighing at least 700 grams with sweetness of 18 brix or higher, discard fruit below specified quality thresholds, and replace some Shine Muscat acreage with other varieties.