Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia.
Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said.
The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added.
Photo: Taipei Times
The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary documents to meet requirements, the agency said.
In November last year, Malaysia approved imports of Taiwanese pomeloes, provided shipments are accompanied by an import permit and a quarantine certificate issued by the agency, it said.
The 3.6 tonnes shipment was the first batch of Taiwanese pomeloes exported to Malaysia, certified by the agency’s Kaohsiung branch on Sept. 7, it said.
Shipped by sea, the fruit arrived in Malaysia on Thursday and cleared customs the following day after quarantine inspectors confirmed it was free of pests or diseases of concern.
Separately, the ministry’s Agriculture and Food Agency hosted a fruit-based beverage competition for drink shop operators to promote locally grown produce.
Participants were required to use at least one of four designated fruits — guava, banana, avocado or dragon fruit — in their creations. Among the entries, “Banana Dopamine” by Ding Go Tea (叮哥茶飲) won the Popularity Award in a blind tasting by 20 people, blending banana and guava juice with a probiotic milk drink, the ministry said.
The contest aimed to diversify sales channels and boost the value of Taiwanese fruits through collaboration with hand-shaken drink shops, which remain highly popular with consumers, Deputy Director-General Chen Chi-jung (陳啟榮) said at the award ceremony yesterday.
The competition drew 31 entries from 16 participants, with the judging panel selecting eight outstanding products based on local ties, market potential, flavor and mouthfeel, he said.
Most of the winning beverages are expected to be available at participating chain outlets by next month, he added.
To further encourage sales, vendors that use 2 tonnes of locally grown fruit in their beverages would receive a NT$20,000 bonus, with an additional NT$10,000 awarded for every extra tonne, Chen said.
The incentives are projected to generate more than 100,000 servings of fruit-based, hand-shaken drinks, he added.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
RSS