TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih visited the First Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market to court votes on Thursday (Jan. 4). The vendors welcomed his visit, stating that Hou Yu-ih is the first of the three presidential candidates to visit and that his engagement might bolster him in the polls.
Accompanied by Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, KMT legislative candidate Chung Hsiao-ping, and Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation Chairman Yang Cheng-wu, Hou Yu-ih was warmly greeted by the local market community.
An avocado seller from New Taipei noted that despite the market being closed, potentially with less political impact, they still voiced support for Hou Yu-ih as he was the first of the candidates to engage with them.
Another vendor expressed hope that Hou Yu-ih could bring improvements to market convenience, as renovations on the market had slowed their business, and thus promised to support him at the polls.
Mayor Chiang Wan-an emphasized that Taipei's fruit market is the nation's largest wholesale agricultural market, reaching a daily transaction volume of 2,500 metric tons. He expressed hope that Hou will endeavor to secure more funding and construction to upgrade the market's equipment and protect vendor rights if elected.
In response, Hou Yu-ih highlighted that having come from grassroots market origins, he once worked in a market alongside his family, making him deeply familiar with market needs.
Hou pledged to harness modern equipment and technology to enhance both the market environment and operating conditions if he secures the presidency. He also committed to ensuring that fruits and vegetables can be preserved in the best cold chain conditions.
In closing, Hou urged all to support a rotation of political power, vital to a functioning democracy.