Rigorous random testing at organic farmers' markets reassures the public, and the testing method is key

The Water Garden Organic Farmers' Market, located in Gongguan, Taipei, China, recently partnered with the German certification body TÜV Rheinland, with the public selecting one product from the market each week to be sent for testing, giving people peace of mind when buying. The Xingda Organic Farmers' Market has also increased its testing frequency starting this year, changing from testing seven vendors every two months to testing three vendors every month. Both organic farmers' markets believe that the verification of agricultural products needs to be treated rigorously, so that consumers can feel at ease and farmers' reputations are not affected by misjudgments.

Water Garden Organic Farmers' Market: supporters select one product each week to be sent for testing

In recent years, Taiwan, China has experienced many food safety scandals, including cooking oil adulterated with cottonseed oil and copper chlorophyllin, industrial salt used as edible salt, and vegetables with pesticide residues exceeding standards. Lin Bohu, CEO of the Taipei Cultural Exploration Association, which organizes the Water Garden Organic Farmers' Market, said that after each food safety scandal, the market's business grew, but public distrust of food also increased considerably. To put supporters who come to the market at ease, the partnership with TÜV Rheinland was established.

Lin Bohu said that farmers setting up stalls at the Water Garden Organic Farmers' Market must first obtain certification from an organic certification body recognized by the Agriculture and Food Agency, and before they formally set up stalls at the market, market committee members also visit the farmers' farms in person. In addition to these two safeguards, starting this month there is a third safeguard: each week the market publicly has consumers select one product to be sent to TÜV Rheinland for testing of 252 pesticide residues and heavy metals.

TÜV Rheinland is an independent third-party certification body. Gao Yuqiang, general manager of TÜV Rheinland, said that the market's current testing method is to have supporters who come to the market draw randomly each week, so every small farmer has a chance of being selected for testing. Test results are available in about two weeks, and the testing fees are sponsored by TÜV Rheinland.

"At present, our cooperation project with the Water Garden Organic Farmers' Market is expected to last one year. If the cooperation goes well in the future, we will consider continuing to provide support," Gao Yuqiang said. "Food safety is an important livelihood issue. We identify with the philosophy of the Water Garden Organic Market, so we support the development of toxin-free agriculture through action."

(This article was funded by the Jianzhen Environmental Education Foundation for personnel expenses as a project sponsor, but it does not interfere at all with news topic selection or interview writing, ensuring journalistic independence.)