Officials tout the export success of Madou pomelos
By Esme Yeh / Staff reporter
The Madou Farmers’ Association yesterday loaded 8.8 tonnes of pomelos to ship to Canada, the third container of the fruit grown in Tainan’s Madou District (麻豆) exported to the North American country so far this year amid robust demand, the Agriculture and Food Agency told a news conference in Madou.
Nearly 30 tonnes of pomelos were exported to Canada in the first two shipments this year and after positive market response, another 8.8 tonnes were prepared and shipped yesterday, the agency said.
They are expected to reach store shelves in 26 to 31 days, it said.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i, third left, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, fourth right, and other officials gesture alongside a shipping container of Madou pomelos at an event in Tainan yesterday.
Photo: Liu Wan-chun, Taipei Times
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Hu Jong-i (胡忠一) told the news conference that Tainan’s pomelo cultivation areas comprise nearly one-third of pomelo planting areas nationwide.
Although production dropped slightly this year, proper field management and post-harvest techniques reduced losses, Hu said.
Pomelo prices are up from previous years, he said, adding that pomelo exports to all regions were 2,139 tonnes so far this year.
Technologies adopted by farmers’ associations — including cold chain logistics, automated grading and packaging, and sweetness detection — help ensure the freshness and quality of Taiwan-grown pomelos, he said.
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