Pingtung pineapples and wax apples take flight, air-freighted for export to Canada

Pingtung County has been committed to expanding county agricultural products into overseas markets. On the 24th, at the Greenland Cooperative in Gaoshu Township, it held the "2021 Pingtung Pineapple and Wax Apple Air Export to Canada Press Conference," air-freighting 500 boxes of pineapples and 120 kg of wax apples for export and distribution to Canadian supermarkets, expanding export channels for Pingtung fruit. Pingtung County Magistrate Pan Meng-an, Jiadong Township Farmers' Association General Secretary Lin Shu-ling, Pingtung County Greenland Cooperative Chairman Kuo Chih-wei, Yushangwu Co., Ltd. General Manager Chang Chin-chuan and others attended together to witness the event. Magistrate Pan Meng-an said the county government is actively laying out a global strategy and breaking through to expand channels, working with local farmers and farmers' groups to jointly promote and market to emerging markets.

Magistrate Pan Meng-an pointed out that so far this year, orders for Pingtung pineapples for domestic and export sales have reached as high as more than 30,000 metric tons, with exports currently totaling 5,287 metric tons and an export value of 190 million yuan. The export countries and regions are mainly Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and others, while markets such as Australia continue to be expanded. In addition, Pingtung wax apple exports so far have totaled 572 metric tons, with an export value of 60 million yuan. The export countries and regions are Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and other countries, and there is still considerable room for development in all aspects.

Magistrate Pan Meng-an stated that this year Pingtung pineapples have successively been exported by air and sea to Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, ensuring the best quality and receiving a welcome from local overseas compatriots and the public, with outstanding results in both price and sales volume. This year, because the pandemic caused adjustments to shipping and flights, Pingtung wax apples were air-freighted to Canada later than usual this year, allowing Canadian friends to also share the sweetness of Pingtung wax apples.

The Pingtung County Agriculture Department stated that the production season for Pingtung County pineapples runs from February to June each year, with a planting area of about 3,509 hectares, making it the largest production area in all of Taiwan, China. The main production areas run from Neipu and Gaoshu in northern Pingtung to Wanluan and other places. This year, Pingtung pineapple exports are committed to breaking through and expanding overseas markets. This air export of Pingtung wax apples and pineapples to Canada is expected to set off a Pingtung fruit trend in Canada.