Kaohsiung’s NT$200 million beekeeping industry and its longstanding roots
Kaohsiung’s NT$200 million beekeeping industry and its longstanding roots
2023-09-07
Now for a spotlight on the thriving beekeeping industry of Kaohsiung. The beekeeping industry in the southern city is worth NT$200 million and has longstanding roots. Today we meet the Wu family who have been keeping bees for more than 70 years. While three generations of Wus are working at the hives, they’re also innovating, and constantly looking for new ways to turn honey into gold.
This family is totally unfazed by the bees filling the air. Three generations of Wus are all beekeepers.
Grandpa Wu Shih-an, 86, has been keeping bees for over 70 years. His son Wu Ming-sheng, 61, is a winner of the Shennong Farming Prize. Even the third generation, Wu Cheng-wei, already has more than a decade of experience in beekeeping.
Granddaughter Wu Hsuan-chiao has also returned to Kaohsiung to join the family business. She manages marketing and quality control. She grew up with bees, but as she told us, it wasn’t easy to take over the family business.
Wu Hsuan-chiao
Beekeeper
When I came back it was quite a struggle, because it was quite boring in the factory, doing repetitive work every day. I felt quite restless for the first two years. Then my dad supported me in moving to something different, trying something different, so I went and created an “Art Tricycle,” to promote our honey. I met a lot of young people through that and it felt fun and interesting. That made me want to find and develop some new products here.
That enthusiasm brought novel perspectives into the traditional industry of beekeeping. Now the family have exciting packaging, and use biotech to produce drink products.
Wu Hsuan-chiao
Beekeeper
I’ve been keeping bees since I was a child. We all have a mission to keep bees. And I feel so happy to be able to turn them into different products and share them with everyone.
While the family keeps their traditions alive, Kaohsiung City’s Agriculture Bureau is doing what it can to help. The Dagangshan Longyan Honey Culture Festival is big event. Last year, Kaohsiung produced 918 tons of honey – about 11% of the whole country’s production. This year, the premium Longyan honey won 12 gold prizes and six special grade prizes at the festival, with all the honeys winning three major stamps of approval.
Chen Chi-mai
Kaohsiung mayor
Simply put, they have to pass three tests. First is our CNS national standard. Second is our HACCP standard, and third is our Halal certificate in Kaohsiung.
The beekeeping industry in Kaohsiung is worth NT$200 million. Farmers and officials are working hard to promote the industry and keep this golden hive buzzing.
養蜂業世代融合 從傳統產業走入生技產業
2023-09-07
養蜂要和蜜蜂一樣勤勞工作，在高雄有一家三代都在養蜂，由養蜂70年經驗的阿公帶領，爸爸和孫子陸續接下養蜂工作，孫女則是負責行銷品管，不只賣蜂蜜，還帶入生技產業，甚至連飲品都有，把年輕一代的觀念帶入傳統養蜂業中。
蜜蜂在身邊飛，也完全不害怕，因為他們一家三代，都是蜂農。
86歲的阿公吳石安，有70年養蜂經驗，爸爸吳銘昇，61歲曾獲得神農獎，第三代吳政緯，接棒養蜂，也超過10年了。
除了哥哥回家幫忙，妹妹吳暄喬也跟著腳步，在行銷和品管上，成了小幫手，暄喬笑說，小時候就和蜜蜂相處，要回家接下家業嗎，她確實掙扎過。
[[養蜂農 吳暄喬]]
“回來之後蠻掙扎的，因為工廠比較無聊，每天都做重複性的工作，我大概前兩年的時候，我就很待不住，後來爸爸也支持我去做不一樣的東西、做不一樣的嘗試，所以我就去做一台文創三輪車，然後也是宣傳我們家的蜂蜜，認識蠻多年輕族群的人，就覺得蠻好玩的，蠻有趣的，就讓我更想要在這邊找到一些新的，開發新的產品”
活潑的個性，也替傳統養蜂產業，注入不少新觀念，從蜂蜜包裝，到結合生技，還打造出飲品。
[[養蜂農 吳暄喬]]
“從小就是在養蜂，我們對養蜂都有個使命在，把它創造一個不同商品，分享給大家，我也覺得是很開心的事情”
三代養蜂農持續傳承，高雄市農業局也幫忙推廣，大崗山龍眼蜂蜜文化節，熱鬧舉辦，去年高雄蜂蜜產量達918公噸，佔全國產量1成1，高品質的龍眼蜂蜜，今年選出6組特等獎以及12組頭等獎，獲獎的蜂蜜，全部都通過三大認證。
[[高雄市長 陳其邁]]
“簡單說要過三關，第一，是我們的CNS的國家標準，第二是HACCP、HACCP的標準，第三我們高雄的蜜還有清真認證”
高雄蜂蜜產業經濟產值約2億元，農民和市府合力推廣，和嗡嗡嗡努力工作的蜜蜂一樣，要持續拚出更大商機。
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