Organic scallions from New Taipei City are in peak season and fresh green, and the storage secrets are revealed

Tseng Lin-chuan, a former railway worker, returned to his hometown of Shuangxi, with its beautiful mountains and waters, to farm organically. He mainly grows organic yam and vegetables. His organic scallions, now in peak season, are fresh, green, delicious and reassuring. Consumers just need to master a few small storage tips, and buying more is a great deal.

Tseng Lin-chuan, in his sixties, served at Taiwan Railways for more than 40 years. After retiring, he immediately devoted himself to farming his father's farmland and expanded the scale, which now reaches 0.7 hectares. Having played in the fields as a child, he was completely unfamiliar with farm work; after retirement he revisited his childhood memories and returned to his hometown with its beautiful mountains and waters to grow organic yam, scallions and vegetables. Tseng Lin-chuan said that his "Sandiao scallions" are especially pungent and spicy, with a rich aroma, and even as the weather gradually turns hotter, they do not grow worms. Unlike Yilan's Sanxing scallions, the green part of "Sandiao scallions" is soft, while the white part is fragrant, spicy and sweet, with enough moisture. They can not only be used as a general seasoning, but also stir-fried directly as a dish.

Because scallions are usually used in small amounts each time as a seasoning, storage gives people a headache, but as long as you master a few small storage tips, you can avoid the awkward situation of them turning yellow in the fridge. Lin Wen-yi, chairman of the Ruifang District Farmers' Association, said that before dividing them up for storage after buying them home, if you are not going to use them yet, do not wash them with water. First cut off the yellowed and rotten parts, wrap them in newspaper, then put them in a plastic bag, and fold the pointed tips of the scallions into the plastic bag before refrigerating. They can be stored for about 6 days.

The New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau said that to encourage farmers to join organic production, the city government provides subsidies including for land rental, certification, organic fertilizer, agricultural machinery, greenhouses and production materials, which can be applied for through the farmers' association. It also helps match farmers so that crops can enter Xiaonong Fresh Shop and farmers' markets around the country for sale, so good products can be seen by everyone. To purchase fresh green scallions, please contact the Ruifang District Farmers' Association Shuangxi Office, phone: (02)2493-1020. Shuangxi farmer Tseng Lin-chuan, phone: (02)2493-1039.