TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Southern Taiwan's pineapple farmers are currently grappling with a price crash caused by abundant fruit, according to the Agriculture and Food Agency.
The agency of the Council of Agriculture explained that last year's success in the pineapple market led many farmers to hasten the ripening process, resulting in a sudden, early harvest across the region.
Unfortunately, the adverse weather conditions have led to poor-quality pineapples that cannot fetch a reasonable price, exacerbating the problem.
Furthermore, Chinese authorities banned Taiwanese pineapples in February last year, contributing to the oversupply.
To address the issue, officials have recommended expanding pineapple exports to Japan.
However, Japan's strict requirements and restrictions have resulted in many pineapples returning to the local market, with estimates indicating that between 70% to 80% of exports fail to meet Japan's standards.