Taiwan-grown leafy greens are set to tantalize the taste buds of Saudi Arabia consumers courtesy of advanced cold-storage technology developed with the assistance of the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture.
The vacuum cooling method extends the maximum shipping and storage time from 20 to 28 days, giving the produce a seven-day shelf life. According to the COA, the innovation opens up markets in the Middle East and Europe to agricultural exports from Taiwan.
COA Minister Chen Chi-chung said Feb. 5 at news conference that the cutting-edge breakthrough was three years in the making and is a credit to the council’s Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute. It is expected to help keep vegetables with high water content like lettuce in pristine condition and boost overseas orders, he added.
A market survey commissioned in 2017 by the COA identified strong demand for Taiwan-grown leafy greens in the Middle East. This prompted the council to support cold-storage technology R&D in an effort to expand the country’s produce exports portfolio. (TYT-E)