[Politics] Tsai Ing-wen: Cold Chain Construction Effective, Taiwanese Fruits Enter Paris to Showcase Agricultural Strength Again

Former President Tsai Ing-wen said today (20th) that Taiwanese mangoes, lychees, and dragon fruits have recently successfully entered the French market and distribution channels in Paris, demonstrating Taiwan's international agricultural competitiveness. This achievement stems from the government's past investment of NT$14 billion in building a national cold chain logistics system, ensuring the quality of agricultural products from harvest to export. This has not only expanded high-end markets such as Europe, increasing farmers' income, but also allowed the world to see Taiwan's agricultural strength. Tsai Ing-wen stated on Facebook today that Taiwanese mangoes, lychees, and dragon fruits have recently been successfully exported to the French market and distribution channels in Paris, giving more European consumers the opportunity to taste the excellent flavor of Taiwanese fruits. She said that for Taiwanese fruits to travel thousands of kilometers to enter the European market, it relies not only on the long-term efforts and excellent quality of farmers but also on the support of a complete cold chain logistics system. Tsai Ing-wen further explained that Taiwan's fruit cultivation area is about 180,000 hectares, covering temperate to tropical fruits, with an annual output of about 2.5 to 3 million metric tons. The aroma of mangoes, the sweetness of lychees, and the color of dragon fruits are all achievements of land, climate conditions, and professional cultivation by farmers. However, for good agricultural products to reach more distant markets, it's not enough to be just 'delicious'; it requires complete quarantine, stable quality, precise temperature control, and an unbroken cold chain system from origin to the global market. She mentioned that during her presidency, she promoted the construction of a national cold chain logistics system covering agriculture, fisheries, and livestock industries. This included flagship logistics centers, regional logistics centers, wholesale market upgrades, and the establishment of cold chain equipment for farmer associations and agricultural enterprises, with a total investment of NT$14 billion. The goal was to improve the quality of agricultural product storage and transportation, reduce losses, and increase market value. Tsai Ing-wen believes that the successful export of Taiwanese mangoes to France this time is a concrete example of the effectiveness of cold chain construction. After harvesting from the origin, mangoes undergo pre-cooling, fumigation quarantine, packaging, and quality inspection. They are then transported through a complete cold chain to the European market. Each step requires precise control of temperature and time to ensure that the products consumers buy retain their best color, aroma, and taste. She said that cold chain construction also helps Taiwanese agricultural products expand into more diverse and high-end international markets. In recent years, the government has continuously assisted in diversifying export markets for agricultural products, reducing reliance on single markets, and actively developing high-income consumer markets such as Japan and South Korea. With the gradual improvement of cold chain, quarantine, and marketing capabilities, the opportunities for Taiwanese fruits to be recognized by the world continue to increase. Tsai Ing-wen emphasized that cold chain construction is not an abstract concept for farmers but a concrete outcome directly reflected in the quality, price, and income of agricultural products. By reducing losses, extending shelf life, and improving production and marketing regulation capabilities, it not only reduces drastic price fluctuations but also increases the added value of agricultural products. Agricultural modernization is not just about growing fruits better, but also about delivering them further, selling them better, and ensuring farmers receive more stable returns. The distance from Taiwanese orchards to the Paris market, though seemingly thousands of kilometers, is actually the result of long-term investment by farmers, agricultural enterprises, logistics teams, quarantine personnel, and the government. (Editor: Shen Zhen-jiang)