What is Food Day? A Monthly Call to Taste the Stories of the Land
Playing on the homophone between "15" (shíwǔ) and "food" (shí wù) in Mandarin, the Ministry of Agriculture has designated the 15th of each month as “Food Day.” The campaign promotes a “3 Yeses, 1 No” dietary philosophy: say yes to (1) eating seasonal local ingredients, (2) sharing meals joyfully with others, and (3) enjoying whole, unprocessed foods—and say no to food waste by eating in moderation.This year, the AFA is working with direct-to-consumer farmers’ outlets, the Homemakers Union Consumer Co-op, and Carrefour hypermarkets to bring Food Day into places where people most often engage with food. Through on-site activities, demonstrations, and promotions, consumers are invited to bring home the fruits of local farmers’ labor and savor both the flavors and nutritional gifts of Taiwan’s land.
Carrefour and Homemakers’ Union Kick Off First Food Day Events in June
Carrefour held its first Food Day event of the year on June 15, targeting families with children. Participants learned to identify and shop for certified local products in-store, prepared lunches using their selected ingredients, and teamed up to promote the purchase of seasonal vegetables among fellow shoppers. The event offered families a hands-on introduction to local produce and the joys of seasonal cooking and communal dining.Meanwhile, the Homemakers’ Union launched a weeklong Food Week campaign beginning June 16 across all its locations. The campaign encouraged consumers to purchase local agricultural products through raffles, bundled promotions, and other initiatives aimed at spreading Food Day’s “eat local, enjoy seasonal” message.
48 Farmers’ Outlets Across Taiwan Join the Food Day Movement
From now through November, 48 farmers’ direct-sale outlets across Taiwan will participate in the Food Day initiative. Locations such as the Ziqiang outlet in Hualien, the Hsinchu County outlet, and the Shuyuan-Hemei Agrotourism Centers in Changhua County will host engaging Food Day events. Another 45 sites island-wide will support the campaign through in-store signage, ingredient showcases, and special offers. Shoppers are encouraged to visit their nearest farmers’ outlets to discover the freshest and most heartfelt local ingredients available.
