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.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS