Generations of farmers in Dashu District of southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City are dedicated to growing top-notch pineapples.
Under the warm April sun, You Jun (尤竣) and his team in Dashu District of southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City get ready to hit the fields as Golden Diamond pineapples enter harvest season. With nearly four decades of experience, You is an expert grower, winning multiple agricultural competitions over the years.
The area’s history of pineapple cultivation dates back to the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945), when 20-plus canning factories were set up to bolster strategic food stockpiles. Production continued expanding after World War II, making Taiwan the world’s largest exporter of the preserved agricultural product in the early 1970s.
Over the following decade, increased competition from countries like the Philippines and Thailand caused Taiwan’s producers to lose some of their edge in the market. In response farmers largely shifted to growing varieties targeted for domestic consumption. The halcyon days of the country’s pineapple industry can still be experienced today at Taiwan Pineapple Museum, which is housed in a restored factory built in 1925.
Nevertheless, the pinnacle of the area’s pineapple production may be yet to come, with the local industry experiencing a renaissance in recent years. While farmers like You continue to sweat in the fields, the younger generation is joining together to reimagine marketing and promotional efforts, raising the profile of Taiwan pineapple on the world stage. All in all, it looks like the future of Dashu’s pineapple farms is going to be as juicy and sweet as the fruit they grow.
—by Jim Hwang
You Jun has been growing pineapples for nearly four decades and has won multiple agricultural competitions.
Freshly cut fruit and pineapple popsicles are sold at a local market operated by Dashu Farmers’ Association.
Taiwan Pineapple Museum’s collection of labels helps preserve Dashu’s history as a major production base for the preserved fruit.
Pineapple cakes and ice cream are served at the museum’s snack bar.