To promote the development of domestically-produced fruits in the Japanese market, Taiwan’s Agriculture Ministry is exporting large quantities of Taiwanese bananas to Japan for school lunch programs. This Sunday, Nov. 2, the ministry held a press conference regarding the project, which began six years ago.

In July 2019, Kasama City signed an MOU to strengthen cooperation in food and cultural exchange with Taiwan. Ibaraki Prefecture has continued purchasing Taiwanese fruits since, steadily increasing the number of schoolchildren eating Taiwan’s bananas from 10,000 to 68,000.

Agriculture Deputy Minister Hu Chung-yi (胡忠一) noted that Taiwan has over 30 types of fruit that can be sold worldwide, 11 of which are already exported to Japan. 

Hu says Taiwanese bananas win over consumers with their quality, commanding higher prices in Japan than their competitors. Banana Strategic Alliance convener Chiu Chu-ying (邱祝櫻) explained that a bunch of three Taiwanese bananas is sold for around ￥398 (US$2.59), while those from the Philippines and Cambodia are sold for ￥208 (US$1.35) and ￥108 (US$0.70), respectively.

Hu lamented that while older generations appreciate the quality of Taiwan’s bananas, young people tend to choose cheaper ones. He explained that the ministry’s cooperation and exchange with Kasama therefore allows young Japanese people to discover Taiwanese bananas’ sweetness and great taste.

Hu said, “The best-tasting bananas in the world are from Taiwan. It’s not just about the great taste, we now have production and sales traceability. As you can see, the production and sales traceability system uses QR codes to show who produced them, where they were produced, and how they were produced. It has also been verified by a certified company, so they are safe, reliable, traceable, and the best in the world.”

Chiu stressed the importance of bananas to Taiwan, noting that Taiwanese bananas held 80% of the Japanese market share during the golden age of exports. She added that banana cultivation areas have gradually decreased to 15,000 hectares, producing around 320,000 metric tons annually, but that their unique flavor and superior quality, coupled with the nostalgia Japanese people have for the Taiwanese produce, allow them to maintain a place in the Japanese market.