Mango season starts in Pingtung, Taiwan first loads exported to Hong Kong, China

In late May, Pingtung mangoes from Taiwan reach their peak production period. On April 16th, at the new cold chain collection and packaging facility of the Pengquan Production Cooperative in Fangliao Township, mangoes were packed into containers for export to Hong Kong, China. Su Maoxiang, the acting director of the Agriculture and Food Agency, emphasized the role of cold chain technology in enhancing the competitiveness of Taiwan’s fruits and reducing transportation losses by up to 20%. The primary export markets targeted include Japan and South Korea.

Lu Wangsheng, chairman of the Pengquan Production Cooperative, highlighted that Aiwen mangoes are the primary agricultural product of the cooperative, with approximately 150 hectares of contracted cultivated land and an average annual output of around 1,500 tons. To address the issue of production over-concentration during the peak season, the cooperative, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Food Agency’s cold chain logistics planning guidance, established a cold chain collection and packaging plant, a low-temperature packaging operation area, a supply chain automation system, and export pre-cooling facilities.

Controlled at 20 to 25 degrees, the cold chain equipment maintains the fruit in optimal condition in the field. After grading and packaging, the mangoes are stored at 5 to 7 degrees in refrigerated freezers, extending their storage and transportation time. This enhances the competitiveness of domestic mango exports, thereby increasing profit opportunities for farmers. Legislator Xu Fugui pledged to advocate for the Ministry of Agriculture to promote the establishment of cold chain factories to enhance Taiwan’s fruit competitiveness in global markets.

Su Maoxiang noted that this year’s peak production period for Pingtung Aiwen mangoes is expected in mid-to-late May. To promote local fruits, the Pengquan Production Cooperative plans to introduce the first high-quality mangoes to the market ahead of schedule on April 16th. Utilizing cold chain logistics vehicles, the mangoes will be transported to the airport and airlifted to Hong Kong, China. The initial export batch will weigh approximately 1 ton, with subsequent shipments of about 5 tons per week, marking the official commencement of the Pingtung mango season.

Su Maoxiang further stated that besides Hong Kong, China, the main export target areas this year include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. Weekly air freight shipments will continue to supply overseas markets, with Japan and South Korea emerging as the primary export targets after production increases in May.

Source: chinatimes.com