Beinong to take another three consecutive days off after the Lantern Festival, COA coordinates fruit and vegetable markets to stabilize vegetable prices
The storm over the Taipei fruit and vegetable auction market's three-day consecutive holiday during Chinese New Year has not yet subsided. Last week's trading volume surged to 3,000 metric tons, and short-term leafy vegetables continued to grow rapidly under consecutive days of high temperatures; however, the Taipei fruit and vegetable auction market will again begin consecutive market closures after the Lantern Festival starting today (the 5th). "The vegetables keep growing, but they can't get out." Pressure at the production end has resurfaced. The COA, together with wholesale markets at production and consumption locations across the country, has mobilized fully, contacting farmers on the supply side to spread out their shipments, while also urging major consignees to increase their purchases.
The Taipei fruit and vegetable auction market will not open until the 8th. Will the disastrous scene of surging volume and collapsing prices repeat itself? COA Deputy Minister Chen Chi-chung said the COA has now launched measures to respond to the market closure; but can this battle over the market closure be brought under control? Chen said the COA will do its utmost to ensure the trading volume and prices on the day the market opens, using "no more than 2,700 metric tons" and "prices falling between 18 and 20 yuan" as the two principles for evaluation.
Fruit and vegetable markets across the country prepare for battle, Taichung and Xiluo: Welcome to trade
Facing the tough trading battle coming in three days, the COA and wholesale markets across the country are all on high alert, and the COA has rolled out multiple adjustment measures.
Chen Chi-chung said the Taipei fruit and vegetable market will now be urged to respond by following the enhanced operating model used before Chinese New Year, with all on-site auction staff halting their rotating days off and fully devoting themselves to auction trading operations, as well as extending auction hours; in addition, supply units will be urged to spread out their market supply, farmers will be asked to flexibly adjust their harvesting and shipping times, and major consignees and consumer households will be encouraged to increase their purchases.
In addition to the Taipei fruit and vegetable auction market being on edge, Chen Yu-chia, section chief of the Taichung fruit and vegetable wholesale market, said that as a half-consumption, half-production market, the Taichung fruit and vegetable wholesale market has decided to follow Chinese New Year operating procedures on the 8th, "halt days off and hold auctions early."
Chen Yu-chia said the Taichung fruit and vegetable wholesale market has now asked auctioneers and market cadres to consult with major consumer households, group meal providers and processing businesses, encouraging consignment units to arrive early at the auction market on March 8 to work and increase their purchase quantities, so as to avoid a large volume of goods affecting trading time.
In addition, the Xiluo fruit and vegetable market, as the largest production-origin market in Taiwan, China, has confidently stated, "Xiluo is operating normally; if supply and demand require it, you are welcome to trade at Xiluo." said Liao Mei-ching, acting manager of the Xiluo fruit and vegetable market.
New Taipei fruit and vegetable market launches "direct purchase from production origins, expand direct sales"
The New Taipei fruit and vegetable market, with its vast consumer population, also quickly stepped forward to launch "direct purchase from production origins, expand direct sales." To ease the pressure of surging volume and falling prices when the market opens, the New Taipei fruit and vegetable market is now making direct purchases from production origins of bulk vegetables that affect vegetable prices, such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, beef tomatoes and white radishes. "For example, we buy cabbage from Yunlin and Changhua, and Chinese cabbage from the Pitou Township Farmers' Association," and 200 metric tons have already been purchased, with more to be added gradually; this batch of vegetables will be sold directly from March 6 to 7 in the B1 basement of the New Taipei City Government Administration Building, the front corridor of the Banqiao Farmers' Association and the main entrance of Banqiao Mega City.
Not only that, the New Taipei fruit and vegetable company has also already negotiated with group meal providers, social meal services and distribution channels. The New Taipei fruit and vegetable market said, "We'll first help Taipei City absorb half of it, to ease things somewhat." Otherwise, the vegetables keep growing and will not wait for anyone.
Chen Chi-chung: Keep it to no more than 2,700 metric tons, with prices falling between 18 and 20 yuan
To avoid a repeat of the disastrous surge in volume and collapse in prices, all units have launched response measures, but whether they will work still depends on the market situation three days later when it opens. Chen Chi-chung said that in view of the fact that trading volume in the past mostly fell in the range of 1,600 to 1,800 metric tons, and surged to 3,000 metric tons last week, the COA will now do its utmost to ensure that on the day the market opens, trading volume and prices are "no more than 2,700 metric tons" and "prices fall between 18 and 20 yuan," using this as the simple criterion for whether the response measures are effective.
But this market closure storm has spread through all ends of production and sales. How should responsibility be assigned? Chen Chi-chung said that the management and operation of markets in each locality is entirely the authority and responsibility of local governments, but now that problems have arisen and affected farmers' income, the COA will absolutely not evade the issue; however, at this stage, "solving the problem" remains the primary goal; after the problem is resolved, it will explain the decision-making process at the time to the public.
And to avoid another market closure storm in the future, the COA suggests that local governments should no longer have three consecutive days off thereafter, "especially fruit and vegetable wholesale markets."