Taiwan’s fruit market has entered a post-Chinese New Year lull, with wholesale fruit prices falling 40 per cent in Taipei since the end of the holiday.
Average prices have hit NT$25 (US$0.78) per kg, according to figures from the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co (TAPMC), down from NT$42 (US$1.31) before Chinese New Year.
Officials said demand following the festivities had plunged, but supply has remained steady, reported the China Post.
Wax apple prices were NT$100 (US$3.13) per catty (0.6kg) the day before Chinese New Year, but had now dropped to NT$30-40 (US$0.94-1.25) per catty.
The retail price for dates dropped from NT$90 (US$2.82) to NT$15-30 (US$0.47-0.94) per catty, while guavas were selling for NT$5-10 (US$0.12-0.31) per piece, which traders said is below production cost.
As a result, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture has announced it will buy as much as 25 tonnes of fruit to boost prices, and will give the fruit to children’s and seniors’ welfare programmes, said the China Post report.
