Pineapple production in Taiwan

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Pineapple plantation in Mingjian, Nantou County
Pineapple plantation at Jiaochitang
Pineapple plantation

Pineapple is one of the fruit crops produced in Taiwan.

Geography[edit]

Pineapple fields in Taiwan are mostly located in the central and southern region, in which 30% of it is located in Pingtung County, followed by Kaohsiung (14%), Tainan (14%), Chiayi County (13%), Nantou County (12%) and Hualien County and Taitung County.[1][2][3]

Varieties[edit]

More than 90 varieties of pineapple are grown in Taiwan however 84% of production is of just one variety, the golden diamond pineapple also known as Tainung 17. Other popular varieties are winter honey (Tainung 13), milky (Tainung 20), sugar-apple (Tainung 4), and perfume (Tainung 11). The smooth cayenne was the first variety introduced into Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period and remains in cultivation.[4] The golden diamond pineapple became dominant as its price rose over the years due to its popularity in China. As Taiwanese growers seek to diversify away from the Chinese market they will have to shift production to other varieties.[5]

The variety Tainung No. 23 has no fibers and smells like mangoes in addition to having a long shelf life. Tainung No. 23 gained intellectual property protection in the Japanese market in 2022.[6] In 2023 the Council of Agriculture accused the Chinese government of producing the Tainung No. 23 without permission.[7] In response to the variety being smuggled to China agricultural intellectual property protection laws were strengthened.[8]

Economy[edit]

The industry developed under the Japanese colonial regime and by 1939 Taiwan was the third largest exporter of canned pineapple in the world.[9]

Over the past few years, Taiwan produces 420,000 tons on average annually.[10] Around 11% of pineapple production in Taiwan are exported to 16 countries or regions around the world, in which 90% of them to Mainland China.[1] In 2020, the total export to Mainland China was 41,661 tons, valued approximately around NT$1.5 billion.[11][12] It is followed by Japan (2,160 tons), Hong Kong (1,186 tons) and Singapore (421 tons).[13] In 2021, a ban on Taiwanese pineapples in Mainland China sparked the "freedom pineapples" phenomenon.[5]

Tourism[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ellis, Samson; Wang, Cindy (26 February 2021). "Pineapples Are at the Center of Latest China-Taiwan Dispute". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. ^ Kuo, Chih-hsuan; Yang, Shu-min; Mazzetta, Matthew (26 February 2021). "Local officials lament China's halt of Taiwan pineapple imports". Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  3. ^ Lin, Chia-nan (27 February 2021). "PRC bans import of Taiwan pineapples". Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. ^ Tang, Venice (3 May 2021). "All you need to know about pineapples in Taiwan". www.taiwannews.com.tw. Taiwan News. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b Bergstrom, Julia (25 May 2021). "Taiwan's "Pineapple War": Opportunity Amid an Industry Crisis". topics.amcham.com.tw. Taiwan Topics. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ "New Taiwanese pineapple gains approval in Japan". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  7. ^ Yuan-ting, Yang; Chin, Jonathan. "China 'steals' patented pineapple". taipeitimes.com. Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  8. ^ Shu-min, Yang; Chung-hsiang, Fan; Mazzetta, Matthew. "Legislature approves bill to better protect local crop varieties". focustaiwan.tw. Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  9. ^ Crook, Steven. "Taiwan's Farm Exporters Look to Unlock New Markets". topics.amcham.com.tw. Taiwan Topics. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. ^ Yang, Yuan-ting; Lee, Hsin-fang (28 February 2021). "Local firms step up for pineapples". Taipei Times. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  11. ^ Teng, Sylvia (26 February 2021). "China to ban Taiwan pineapples starting March 1". Taiwan News. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  12. ^ "China pineapple ban sparks sour rebuke from Taiwan". CNA. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  13. ^ Yang, Shu-min; Liu, Kay (26 February 2021). "China's halt of Taiwan pineapple imports 'unacceptable': COA head". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 28 February 2021.