TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Miaoli County’s Dahu Township started its annual strawberry season on Thursday as farmers bring in fruit that has slowly turned red after a late round of planting.
CNA reported that local growers pushed back planting this year because heat waves hurt young plants and raised the risk of pests. They said this delay pushed the harvest back by roughly two weeks and left farmers working hard to keep plants alive.
Dahu Township Farmers' Association said Dahu now grows about 375 hectares of strawberries, which is more than half of Taiwan’s total output. The association noted the township draws visitors who want to walk through rows of flowers and check out the first ripe berries.
The association said it rolled out three new strawberry products after hearing from shoppers who wanted more options. It introduced a fermented strawberry drink, a strawberry milk ice cream, and chewy strawberry jelly.
The first crop is still small, so prices run higher than usual, but dessert shops keep asking for more berries as the season starts, the association noted. It added the harvest should last until April next year if the weather holds steady.
Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin (鍾東錦) encouraged families to visit Dahu Township to pick berries and enjoy the fresh air. Chung said people can also check out nearby spots like Manabang Summit Trail, which offers quiet views and easy paths.
