Taitung and Japan discuss quarantine and inspection procedures as well as marketability challenges for Taitung’s pineapple sugar apples

TAITUNG, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 28
October 2021 – China’s import ban on sugar apples, announced on 9/20, severely
impacted Taitung’s agricultural community. Every year, Taitung exports around 15,000
metric tons of sugar apple, which accounts for 95% of national exports. China’s
announcement coincided with a Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Kaohsiung
Office visit to Taitung. Taitung County Government Secretary-General Lu
Xie-chang chaired a meeting with the Taitung County Government Agriculture
Department, other relevant county government departments and members of the
Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Kaohsiung Office. During the meeting, those
present discussed the market potential for pineapple sugar apples in Japan,
quarantine regulations and other pertinent protocols.

Taitung and Japan
discuss quarantine and inspection procedures as well as marketability
challenges for Taitung’s tastiest fruit.

Taitung County Magistrate April Yao’s stance regarding the
export of Taitung pineapple sugar apples. Yao hope that the County Government
can better understand quarantine measures and market opportunities for
Taitung’s agricultural products abroad through exchanges with different countries.

Agriculture Department Director-General Xu Jia-hao stated
that Taitung County has enforced a zero-pest policy since the beginning of this
year. In addition, Director–General Xu has frequently discussed these
matters with the Taitung County Farmer’s Association, packaging plants and
exporters. Taitung can’t directly ship pineapple sugar apples to Japan because
Taiwan is an area impacted by the oriental fruit fly. These pests don’t inhabit
Japan. Therefore, if Taitung wants to export pineapple sugar apples to Japan,
they first must be turned into frozen food products. The Taitung District
Agricultural Research and Extension Station has developed a novel technique that
allows pineapple sugar apples to be exported. Sugar apples can now be frozen at
-40°C before they are fully ripe. After three days, nearly all
the sugar apples become fully ripe even though they are still frozen. Once the
fruit is thawed, the appearance, texture and flavor are almost the same as
fresh pineapple sugar apples.

The Taitung County Government is doing everything it can to
help pineapple sugar apple farmers. The government hopes to forge a
comprehensive strategy that will increase sales of pineapple sugar apples in
the future.