Surging quality propels the monthly export of Taiwanese pineapples to thousand metric tons

Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (COA) indicates that the area of pineapple cultivation in Taiwan for this year (2022/2023) has reached 7,185 hectares, and the expected yield of 37,9425 metric tons is only one percent short of last year’s 382,952 metric tons. From south to north, the central production regions by the harvest order are Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, and Nantou. Areas that are currently in prime production, Pingtung and Kaohsiung, are already 40% into their harvest. Because of the high prices last February and March, farmers this year attempted to push the ripening forward to between February and April and succeeded in doing so. Although the farm price remained steady at NT$18 per kilogram, the sudden cold wave in early spring resulted in cold damage and hampered the quality of harvest in early February. The situation was exacerbated with low-temperature transport (12-15°C) to Japan, with many observed browning cores at the destination. Some importers attempted to de-stock the pineapples by selling them at breakeven prices or to process them into fruit cuts prematurely. In response, the COA has required distributors to maintain a retail price of no lower than JPY300 per kilogram (inclusive of taxes) on the Japanese market. To maintain a positive image for Taiwanese pineapples, operators identified to market low-quality products and engage in cut-throat pricing will be excluded from export rewards.

Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan (COA) indicates that the area of pineapple cultivation in Taiwan for this year (2022/2023) has reached 7,185 hectares, and the expected yield of 37,9425 metric tons is only one percent short of last year’s 382,952 metric tons. From south to north, the central production regions by the harvest order are Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Chiayi, and Nantou. Areas that are currently in prime production, Pingtung and Kaohsiung, are already 40% into their harvest. Because of the high prices last February and March, farmers this year attempted to push the ripening forward to between February and April and succeeded in doing so. Although the farm price remained steady at NT$18 per kilogram, the sudden cold wave in early spring resulted in cold damage and hampered the quality of harvest in early February. The situation was exacerbated with low-temperature transport (12-15°C) to Japan, with many observed browning cores at the destination. Some importers attempted to de-stock the pineapples by selling them at breakeven prices or to process them into fruit cuts prematurely. In response, the COA has required distributors to maintain a retail price of no lower than JPY300 per kilogram (inclusive of taxes) on the Japanese market. To maintain a positive image for Taiwanese pineapples, operators identified to market low-quality products and engage in cut-throat pricing will be excluded from export rewards.

Employing group buying and bringing in food processors to balance out prime production
With the pineapple production in Chiayi and Tainan region entering prime harvest in early April, the peak volume will soon follow. To accommodate for that, the COA will embark on a series of marketing initiatives, which include but are not limited to national-level marketing fairs, sales stands at agricultural markets, promotion campaigns at supermarkets, and the encouragement of military non-staple food stations, prison caterers, farmers’ association-operated supermarkets to prioritize buying quality Taiwanese pineapples. In addition, reputable enterprises will be encouraged to launch group buying for their employees and family members to buy pineapples from elite Agricultural Production and Marketing Groups (APMG), whose TAP-certified pineapples have such fine texture that even the cores are edible and will surely be loved by consumers. Furthermore, projects to explore diverse processing uses of pineapples are being implemented. Guidance is implemented for processing plants to buy pineapples at NT$ 8 per. The plants will manufacture a wide array of products such as pineapple cakes, dried pineapples, pineapple paste, as well as pineapple wines and vinegar. As of now, 2,073 metric tons of fruits have been processed through this channel. Additional support is to be provided during the April prime season to increase the processing and storage capacity of processing operators and their satellite plants. Finally, the COA calls for consumers to take advantage of the prime season when the fruits are of the best quality and taste. Come and enjoy the nutritious and delicious Taiwanese pineapples!

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Surging quality propels the monthly export of Taiwanese pineapples to thousand metric tons