The midsummer green bamboo shoot harvesting season is upon us. New Taipei City Government’s Agriculture Department, in cooperation with farmers’ associations in each of the city’s green bamboo harvesting areas, last weekend organized a green bamboo shoot trade fair at the plaza in front of the Banciao Farmers’ Association. The farmers, shocked by the Formosa Fun Coast dust explosion, wanted to help the injured with a charity sale of a portion of the goods.
There were a total of twenty stalls at the fair. Bamboo farmers each morning dug up green bamboo shoots, which were directly delivered to the public, so they could select and sample the freshest produce.
Department chief Liao Rong-ching said that 1,670 hectares is given over to the plantation of green bamboo shoots in New Taipei City, which yields approximately 6,700 tons of bamboo shoots per annum, with a value of up to NT$900 million. Aside from promoting agricultural produce, the department also hopes, through holding the charity fair, to let those injured at the Bali District dust explosion know that farmers are concerned for them.
Photo: Chen Wei-tsung, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者陳韋宗
Liao said that, after the accident happened, he went one by one to Xindian, Taichung and any other local hospitals to visit the injured, and each time left with a heavy heart. He also said that many farmers’ associations would like to extend a helping hand, and that they are currently discussing whether they should donate money to help these families get through this difficult time.
(Liberty Times, translated by Edward Jones)
盛夏正值綠竹筍「大出」季節，新北市政府農業局與各產區農會合作在上週六、日於臺北板橋農會前廣場，舉辦綠竹筍展售會。農友們心繫這次八仙塵爆意外，將部分以義賣形式，幫助傷者。
這次展售，共計二十個攤位；筍農每日早上現挖的綠竹筍，直接送達讓民眾品嘗、選購最新鮮的產品。
農業局長廖榮清表示，新北綠竹筍種植面積達一六七○公頃，年產量約六七○○公噸，每年產值可達九億；除推廣農產，也希望能透過義賣，讓八里塵爆事件傷者感受到農友們的關心。
廖榮清說，事件發生後，陸續到新店、台中等各地醫院探視傷者，心中相當不捨，「很多農會都希望可以伸出援手，目前正在討論，是否透過捐款，幫助這些家庭度過難關。」
(自由時報記者陳韋宗)
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