The Agriculture and Food Agency is to promote locally produced agricultural products at eight chain outlets from Monday next week to the end of the year, agency Deputy Director-General Chen Chi-jung (陳啟榮) said.
The initiative aims to promote domestic agriculture amid global supply chain restructuring, Chen said.
While US President Donald Trump seeks an “America First” policy, Taiwan should take a “Taiwan First” approach to bolster local industries, he said.
Photo: Screen grab from the Agriculture and Food Agency’s Web site
Following the example of Japan’s “Green Lantern” movement, the Ministry of Agriculture sought advice from the Corporate Synergy Development Center to explore feasible strategies in promoting locally grown produce to the public, he said.
Launched in Hokkaido, the Green Lantern movement has over the past 20 years spread across Japan, encouraging local eateries to hang a green lantern outside their buildings to show that grown-in-Japan ingredients are used in their dishes.
To encourage customers to prioritize local produce, the first step is to help them identify them, Chen said, adding that agricultural products with national certified marks, such as traceability certification, organic certification or certified agricultural standards, are all homegrown products.
The second step is to let customers know where they can buy local, he said.
While green lanterns are used in Japan, Taiwan has sales channels that can be leveraged for product distribution, which is why the ministry collaborated with eight major chains to market local produce, with promotional campaigns to be held nationwide from this month to December, he said.
The chains are Muji, Carrefour Taiwan, Taiwan Fresh Supermarket, Taiwan FamilyMart, GCI Shop, Post Mall, Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Co and City’super.
People can participate in a lucky draw for each purchase of NT$200 or more as long as they register the unified receipt and upload a photograph of the purchased local produce, Chen said.
The incentive plan is not only expected to attract more local produce consumers, but also create greater demand that would encourage more domestic agricultural production, he said.
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