Kaohsiung 'Pineapple-Lychee Festival' Kicks Off; Mayor Chen Chi-mai Promotes Local Produce

The Kaohsiung 'Pineapple-Lychee Festival' kicked off this weekend. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and others attended the 'Dashu Harvest, Sweet and Colorful' ceremony in Dashu District today, where they presented awards for pineapple and lychee quality and promoted local agricultural products such as Yuhebao lychees and Golden Diamond pineapples. Chen and several representatives attended the event, made creative desserts, visited local farmers' stalls, and tasted the produce to market Dashu's local specialties. Chen stated that in recent years, the Kaohsiung City Government has opened international channels, with Dashu Golden Diamond pineapples being used in school lunches in Hachioji, Japan, and available for purchase in Japanese stores. 'Dashu Yuhebao is world-renowned and was recommended by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.' Furthermore, Chen said that the harvest period for Dashu Golden Diamond pineapples is short, lasting only 2 to 3 weeks a year, and welcomed the public to visit the Dashu District Farmers' Association Gushan Warehouse this weekend to buy produce and visit nearby attractions like the Old Railway Bridge and Fo Guang Shan. According to a Kaohsiung City Government press release, Dashu District is known as the 'hometown of Yuhebao' due to its hills, sunlight, and water quality. The 'Kaohsiung Pineapple-Lychee Festival' is held at the Dashu District Farmers' Association Gushan Warehouse for two days, featuring agricultural product exhibitions, markets, and family activities.