Fruit growers and officials promoted Yunlin County’s pomelo crop this week, after cold weather in March and heavy rain in June cut this year’s harvest by up to 30%. The large citrus fruit is closely associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, when it is commonly eaten with family or gifted to others.

Speaking at a promotional event at Taiwan’s legislature on Friday, September 4, Yunlin County Deputy Magistrate Hsieh Shu-ya (謝淑亞) said this year’s crop is particularly sweet despite the rains. She said pomelo growers work hard all-year-round for a single harvest that depends on the weather.

She went on to say that the Mid-Autumn Festival is a day of reunion, referring to the lunar calendar holiday that falls on September 25 this year. “When the moon is full and people are together, of course we should eat ‘the fruit of reunion’,” she said.

According to the local government, Yunlin County in central Taiwan has about 235 hectares of pomelo orchards producing roughly 4,700 metric tons. Douliu City accounts for more than 70% of the county’s growing area.

Pomelo grower Liu Jen-wei (劉人維), known locally as the “Pomelo Prince,” told Rti in an interview at the event that although Douliu only accounts for about 5% of Taiwan’s total cultivation area, its pomelo represents “the top of the premium-quality pyramid.”

Consumers had better act fast if they want to get their hands on this year’s pomelos, Liu said. “You need to be quick! Otherwise you might have money, but still not be able to buy any,” he said.