Keelung City Government promotes Keelung yam and leisure agriculture

To promote Keelung yam and drive the economic development of the Marling Leisure Agriculture Area, the Keelung City Economic Development Department teamed up with yam-growing farmers to match them with restaurant operators, and yesterday (the 19th) held a launch press conference. Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang tasted the "Purple Yam Adzuki" hand-shaken drink, highly praising how cooking techniques combined with local agricultural ingredients bring forth new ideas and boost the image and development of Keelung's agricultural products.

Mayor Lin Yu-chang said that this year is different from the past, promoting yams through a yam feast. In addition to working with leisure agriculture operators, the plan is not only to eat yams, but through dining, hands-on DIY, or farming experiences, and through overall planning of package tours, to bring more people into the leisure agriculture area, admire the beautiful scenery of Marling, and drive the economic development of leisure agriculture.

Chen Mei-yun, chairperson of the Marling Leisure Agriculture Area Development Association, said that the agriculture area is launching a package-ticket experience tour for the first time this year. The event matches multiple operators and also works with Lion Travel. Farm operators pair featured set meals, indigo dyeing, agricultural harvest experiences, and hands-on minecart DIY and other items.

Besides promoting yams, the Marling Leisure Agriculture Area, integrating farm resources and features, is launching for the first time an exclusive "LOHAS Experience Ticket", creating diverse and rich itineraries to boost the economy of the leisure agriculture area. Each experience ticket costs 299 yuan. Visitors plan their own Marling Leisure Agriculture Area itinerary. Tickets are expected to go on sale on December 1 at participating farms and the Marling Visitor Center, limited to 2,000 tickets. Those who buy three tickets at once will also receive a small gift.