The Agriculture Bureau in Kaohsiung is promoting “stylish farmers” in the municipality. To pitch this idea to young people, the bureau says that an annual salary of NT$1 million is no longer a dream. Meinong Township is a focus for attention in this campaign. In recent years the Meinong Farmers’ Association has promoted orange-flavored tomatoes, which have a mild sour taste mixed with delicious sweetness. They are very popular with consumers and have become one of the favorites on the market. During the growing process, manpower is necessary for gardening and management, which cannot be done by machine. That makes it necessary for young people to return to the township to join the workforce and become guardians of the farmland.
What is worth mentioning is that the Farmers’ Association instructs farmers to culture bacteria on their own to vitalize the land. In this way, farming can be done with microorganisms and less with chemical fertilizers, enhancing the soil with organic matter. The healthy soil can then grow healthy produce.
Following the outstanding sales performance of the orange-flavored tomatoes, similar tomatoes grown elsewhere than Meinong have been appearing on the market. In order to keep the business sustainable, the farmers’ association has registered a trademark with the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The trademark can show consumers that the orange-flavored tomatoes are a local brand, ensuring their quality and distinguishing them from other tomato products on the market, thus reducing consumers’ confusion.
Photo: Chen Wen-chan, Liberty Times
照片:自由時報記者陳文嬋
(Liberty Times, translated by Ethan Zhan)
農業局推動高雄型農,年薪百萬不是夢,吸引年輕人返鄉從農,尤以美濃區最受矚目,美濃區農會近年推廣「橙蜜香番茄」,微酸中帶甘甜美味,深受消費者喜愛,崛起成為市場新寵;加上栽種過程中,仰賴人力照顧與管理,機械無法取代,奠定青年返鄉條件,成為守護農地的生力軍。
值得一提的是,農會指導農民自行培養微生菌活化土壤,帶入微生物活菌的耕作方式,藉此減少化學藥肥的依賴,強化土壤的有機質,讓健康的土壤長出健康的農作物。
隨著「美濃橙蜜香番茄」熱銷,市場上出現產地不在美濃的橙蜜香番茄,農會為了永續經營,已向經濟部申請「美濃橙蜜香番茄」商標,除以此做為在地品牌,也強調品質區隔市場,以避免消費者混淆。
(自由時報記者陳文嬋)
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