Taiwan bananas appear in Japanese schoolchildren's school lunches, purchased and donated by Japanese companies

Will the use of Taiwan bananas for Japan's "Banana Day" expand further? Last year, the Council of Agriculture signed a "Letter of Intent on Strengthening Taiwan-Japan Agricultural Product Exchange" with Gotemba City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, selling 500 kg of Taiwan bananas to Gotemba City, for the city's 6 elementary schools and 4 junior high schools to use "Taiwan bananas" as the fruit for schoolchildren's lunches on "Banana Day" on 7/11. This year, the "Next Generation Association," made up of local enterprises in Shizuoka Prefecture, has again expanded its purchase to about 500 kg of Taiwan bananas, donating them for schoolchildren's lunches at kindergartens, elementary schools and junior high schools in Shimada City and Yoshida Town, estimated to provide 5,000 servings.

Japanese companies buy Taiwan bananas, donate them to Japanese children's school lunches

"Through this kind of Taiwan-Japan corporate cooperation, the market channel for Taiwan bananas in Japan can gradually open up," said Lin Chia-jung, deputy director-general of the Council of Agriculture's Department of International Affairs. He said that last year's use of "Taiwan bananas" in schoolchildren's lunches in Gotemba City sparked discussion as a topic in Japan; this year the city has even allocated a budget through its local government to supply Taiwan bananas as the fruit for schoolchildren's lunches.

"Children may not feel much about it, but their parents' and grandparents' generations have a very good impression of Taiwan bananas." Lin further said that last year's cooperation case between Gotemba City and Taiwan received a large amount of media exposure and also produced a news effect, so this year the Next Generation Association was willing to follow suit, bringing about this year's Taiwan-Japan corporate cooperation. "Although this year it is the Next Generation Association donating to these schools, next year there may be a chance to prompt the local school lunch departments to allocate a budget and buy Taiwan bananas for schoolchildren's lunches."

Council of Agriculture: Hopes schoolchildren eating Taiwan bananas can open up market channels

Besides schoolchildren in places such as Gotemba City and Shimada City in Shizuoka Prefecture being able to eat Taiwan bananas at lunch, there are now also companies in Akita Prefecture, Japan, that purchase Taiwan bananas and donate them to local "homes for the elderly," letting Japanese senior citizens take this opportunity to recall the flavor of Taiwan bananas.

Lin said that Taiwan's total banana export volume last year was only 1,584 metric tons, of which 1,579 metric tons were sold to Japan, accounting for 99%, with the remaining 5 metric tons sold to Singapore. Using Taiwan bananas in schoolchildren's lunches is one way to expand sales channels for Taiwan bananas. "Later we may also coordinate with advertising and promotional materials, food exhibition events and so on to gradually expand market channels." But while expanding market channels, it is still necessary to ensure the quality and stable output of Taiwan bananas. "I hope Taiwan Agriculture and Development Co. can assist in the future with contract farming of Taiwan bananas that meet export specifications."