Pomelo production in Taiwan is expected to rise by 22 per cent this year, meeting demand for the fruit during the Mid-Autumn festival on both the domestic and export markets.
The Taiwanese crop has not suffered any weather damage this year, said the country’s Council of Agriculture (COA) last week, reported CNA.
Exports are forecast to rise from last year’s 200 tonnes to 500 tonnes this year, according to Chen Wen-te, director of the COA’s Agriculture and Food Agency.
“The sales volume to China has exceeded more than 150 tonnes this year already and more containers are ready to ship to other international markets ahead of the festival,” he said.
Apart from mainland China, export opportunities have been identified in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as Chinese communities in Canada, the CNA report said.
Export prices can reach NT$24 (US$0.75) per kg, according to Peng Tzu-nan, director-general of the Yusi Area Farmer’s Association in Hualien County, which is a slight boost on the usual domestic price of NT$18 (US$0.56).
Taiwan has around 5,000ha planted to pomelos, with Hualien and Tainan the top production regions.
