By Eryk Michael Smith/KHT Staff. Images via Pingtung County Govt.
PINGTUNG — The Pingtung County Government (屏東縣政府) has launched its annual mango season campaign with Carrefour Taiwan (家樂福), promoting locally grown Irwin mangoes.
The county held a “Pingtung Mango Summer Season” event on May 28 at Carrefour’s Guilin store in Taipei, a branch known for attracting international tourists looking for Taiwan-made food products and souvenirs.
Pingtung County Magistrate Chou Chun-mi (周春米) appeared with Carrefour procurement chief Huang Tsui-hua (黃翠華) to promote the fruit, joined by local growers, and a two-time mango evaluation champion.
Chou said Pingtung’s warm climate and abundant sunshine make it one of Taiwan’s earliest Irwin mango-producing areas. She said this year’s crop has benefited from suitable rainfall and strong sunlight, improving fruit set and producing a large harvest with good quality and relatively affordable prices.
“Eating Pingtung Irwin mangoes is a summer ritual,” Chou said, urging shoppers and overseas visitors to buy the fruit during the early part of the season.
Fang said Pingtung mangoes benefit from the county’s climate, including the seasonal luoshang wind, which helps remove excess moisture and improve sweetness and aroma. He said many growers allow mangoes to ripen naturally on the tree and use careful cultivation methods to produce fruit with strong color, dense flesh, and high juiciness.
The Pingtung County Government said cooperation with major retailers can help stabilize production and sales while increasing farmers’ income.
Carrefour said its Taiwan stores shipped about 50 tonnes of Pingtung Irwin mangoes in May. The company expects sales to rise further in June as the season reaches its peak.
