The Council of Agriculture (COA) is organizing the “2007 Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Associations’ Quality Produce Exposition” from Dec 29 to Jan 1 at the National Taiwan University’s Sports Center. The objectives are to raise the value of the produce and help the associations market their quality products while providing consumers with more gift options at this time of the year. Food market sellers are especially invited on Dec 29. The public is encouraged to take advantage of the yearend holidays to go and check out the goods at this exposition starting from Dec 30.

As the economic environment improves in recent years, the COA indicates, farmers’ and fishermen’s associations have had to diversify and develop by not just innovating on local specialties and come up with new and excellent products but also by greatly upgrading their value through professionally designed packaging. This exposition is being held to highlight the performances of the farmers’ and fishermen’s associations, to support and recognize the efforts of them as well as to help them to open new outlets for their produce, aside from establishing a marketing platform with the business world.

According to the COA, this expo will not just feature the 100-year history of the farmers’ and fishermen’s associations as well as the performance of their promotion of farming and fishery, agriculture finance, agricultural product marketing, farmers’ welfare, agriculture tourism, farming village leisure and farming village community service, also, about 100 outstanding quality products from 86 associations have been selected from over 1,000 products attributed from 343 associations for sale as new years gift. These outstanding products include fruits, rice, tea, winery products all, roast and bakery products, fruit preserves, gourmet food, authentic food specialties and even skin care products. They are displayed and sold at the Exposition. Everyone is welcome to shop for presents for their family and their friends.

COA Minister Su Jia-Chyuan said: “Since I took over as Minister of the COA nearly a year ago, I have seen our farmers and fishermen work very hard to innovate. I have seen Taiwan’s agricultural and fishery products make an impact in mainland China. In fact, our quality produce has been welcomed even in Japan. This is something to be proud of. Such achievement should be shared with Taiwan business sector.” Su urged 1,000 big food market sellers to come and have a look at the expo on the first day. This is to enable them to shop for their Lunar New Year giveaways before the end of the year.

According to Su, food in prosperous Taiwan is getting more exquisite but it is becoming more unhealthy, too. People lack not rich food items like fish, meat and cakes in their diet. What they truly need to consume more are natural, preferably fresh and raw, harvested from the land and sea, grown with clean inputs and naturally nurtured products. Lunar New Year presents convey a message that is pure, tender, sweet and sincere in intent. This coming Lunar New Year, consider the quality farming and fishery produce on the exposition when looking for presents to express such an intention.

Welcome to the 2007 farmers’ and fishermen’s associations’ quality products exposition.