Lemon prices triple as trees still recover from Typhoon Gaemi

Lemon prices triple as trees still recover from Typhoon Gaemi

2026-04-16

Pingtung’s Jiuru Township is famed for its lemons, the price of which has recently skyrocketed. Last year, Typhoom Gaemi ravaged the lemon orchards in the area, and production hasn’t recovered yet. That has caused the price of lemons to triple. Before the typhoon, a catty of lemons, which is 600g, would go for NT$20. Now, it’s NT$70. Let’s hear more.

Ms. Pan
Drink shop owner
I went to the market to buy green lemons, and it cost NT$70 to NT$80 to buy a catty. That’s a huge price hike. But we can’t straight up raise prices like that. More than half our drinks have lemon.

Business owner
Drink shop
The harvest hasn’t been good, so the price of lemon juice is up. It’s gone up 50% from last year. If this continues, we’ll have to reflect this increase in our prices too.

Kung Tai-wen
Jiuru Township Farmers Association
We’re still two months away from peak season in June. Usually, whereas we would have five lemons before, now it’s just one. That’s a drop of 80%, we’ve been left with just one-fifth of the fruits. If another typhoon strikes, I don’t know how much we’ll be able to harvest.

With 1,700 hectares of lemon orchards, Jiuru is a major lemon production area in Taiwan, accounting for 70% of the national lemon production. In 2024, Typhoon Gaemi caused widespread damage to the trees branches and roots, which take a long time to recover. The lower yields have caused a supply shortage that has led to a surge in lemon prices, and it seems production will still take some time to recover.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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#lemon #citrus #jiuru #taiwan #agriculture #typhoon

颱風重創屏東九如產地檸檬收成大減價格漲三倍

2026-04-16

屏東九如鄉是全台檸檬主要產地，然而受到2024年凱米颱風重創，至今產量還沒恢復，導致檸檬價格大飆漲，每台斤要價約70元，跟過去受衝擊前20元，就漲了三倍。

[[飲料店業者潘小姐]]
“像我去市場，如果買那個檸檬，青的檸檬，一斤都要 70、80塊，漲蠻多的，然後我們又不可以直接漲價，最主要是飲料特調一半以上都要加到檸檬。”

[[飲料店業者]]
“收成好像不是那麼好，所以(檸檬汁原料)價格的部分都有調漲，那從去年到今年應該有漲了快將近50%，那如果長期都是一直這樣的話，當然就必須要，可能會反應在價格上。”

[[屏東縣九如鄉農會總幹事龔泰文]]
“最主要盛產期是6月份，這個還要兩個月，我們預計它的量，一串本來都是五個，現在只有一個，所以已經減產了80%，剩20%的果實，如果這中間颱風又來了，我也不知道還有多少可以收成。”

屏東九如鄉是全台檸檬主要產地，產量占70%，種植面積就高達1700公頃，卻受到2024年凱米颱風重創，檸檬樹的根部、枝幹都需要長時間復原，如今產量不如以往，供不應求下，導致檸檬價格大飆漲，要恢復到以前的產量，還得等好一陣子。

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For the rose petal jam, we let customers steep entire flowers in the jam-infused tea. We collaborate with an organic rose grower in Taichung.

Customer
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I think it’s very special. You don’t often see flowers served with food and drinks like this. The entire arrangement is beautiful.

Located in Jianye New Village in Kaohsiung’s Zuoying District, every corner of this teahouse was carefully considered by the owner. Even the weathered brick walls outside the vintage wooden windows are enlivened with floral embellishments.

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We’re three good friends who merged our interests in botanical arrangement and desserts and decided to collaborate. Since this area in Zuoying’s Jianye New Village doesn’t have much foot traffic, we thought about how to entice people to come in.

During the week, floral arranging workshops are taught here. But on the weekend, this old military dependent building transforms into a hidden teahouse, attracting people from far and wide with a love for both plants and desserts.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Spotlight on lawyer and activist, Robin J. Winkler

Today we introduce you to lawyer Robin J. Winkler, who has called Taiwan home for nearly four decades. Beyond his dedication to environmental causes and legal reform, Winkler also ventured into entrepreneurship by co-founding a restaurant. FTV reporter Stephany Yang sat down with him to explore his passions and the journey that brought him here.

Not long after settling in Taiwan, Winkler established the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, a nonprofit devoted to ecological and environmental protection. Aside from environmentalism, he also co-founded Winkler Partners in 2002. The law firm is the first Taiwanese law firm to form a partnership with foreign attorneys.

Robin J. Winkler
Lawyer and environmentalist
I am a lawyer and I do mostly environmental related law right now through an organization called Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association. I founded a couple of law firms in Taiwan. One that still continues to operate today is called Winkler Partners. I came here originally in 1977 after graduating from university in Sinology and Asian Studies, with a focus on China and Chinese language and culture. At that time, Taiwan was the place to come for advanced studies. I came here and I really liked the place and kept coming back. Finally, I graduated from law school in 1982 or 1983. I can’t remember but I then came back and have been in Taiwan ever since.

Among the causes he champions is the survival of the Taiwanese pink dolphin, a critically endangered subspecies of humpback dolphin found only along Taiwan’s west coast. With fewer than 100 dolphins left, they are considered one of the world’s most endangered cetaceans. Winkler has become a prominent voice in safeguarding their future.

Robin J. Winkler
Lawyer and environmentalist
The conservation of the Taiwanese Pink Dolphins, which resides along our west coast from about Taoyuan down to Tainan. It is critically endangered according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The numbers are declining, and it faces threats from pollution, loss of habitat, and fishing, as well as fishnet entanglements.

Winkler, alongside his partners, also founded a restaurant. The restaurant has earned numerous awards for its commitment to sustainability and innovation. Its mission is to support the land, empower farmers, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Robin J. Winkler
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A platform for Taiwan’s diversity, small farmers, and land issues, so it was meant to be sort of a an activist restaurant.

In 2003, he gave up his US citizenship to become a naturalized Taiwanese, in hopes of carrying out environmental and legal activities in Taiwan. For nearly four decades, Winkler has been a prominent figure in both law and activism, bridging international perspectives with local issues.

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Working a lot on natural gas projects and energy-related initiatives, including solar and wind energy, because their sighting is often not ideal. Those will definitely continue. New projects. My own interest is really in social enterprises. I think the environmental and social justice movement needs to find a way to fund itself other than through donations or accepting projects from government agencies.

His new goals include blending environmental activism with social entrepreneurship. He is not only focused on energy projects like solar and wind but also on building sustainable enterprises.

Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Fans seek matchmaking god’s help with buying concert tickets

The State Temple of the Martial God is one of Tainan’s four main temples to the matchmaking god Yue Lao. The deity is already busy tying red marriage threads, but now he has yet another task on his plate—helping people get concert tickets. Fans say that chasing idols is like falling in love. By paying respects to Yue Lao, the god can help tie the red thread of fate between a fan and their idol, enabling them to snag tickets and maybe even meet them. Fans are therefore bringing more than your typical snacks and sweets as offerings. They’re also leaving fan merchandise on the offering table.

The table in front of Yue Lao at Tainan’s State Temple of the Martial God is full of offerings. Aside from your usual biscuits and candy, some idol merchandise has also started appearing.

When the K-pop boyband BTS announced that they’re performing in Kaohsiung in November, fans went to Yue Lao before tickets went on sale in the hopes of getting tickets.

BTS fan
On the form you can write the name of the concert and the band members’ names. It’s more sincere if you write it by hand. Then I’ll prepare instant noodles, chips, and pudding endorsed by the band.

BTS fan
I prayed to Yue Lao when BTS came to Taiwan before and I was able to buy tickets. If you’re an idol fan, you know you need to pray to Yue Lao in order to get tickets. He’ll help us find a good match.

Fans say that chasing idols is like dating. Praying to Yue Lao will help you tie the red string of fate between you and your idol. They also claim you will always be able to get tickets if you pray to Yue Lao, becoming a brand-new service for the matchmaking god. Fans have even invented a new way to pray. Besides clearly writing the idol’s information on a prayer card, it’s best to bring a doll, hand lantern, or products endorsed by them, as well as a layout of the concert venue to clearly explain your wish.

Lin Pei-huo
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Wein the serve industry welcome everyone. Take your time making your request. Whatever I want today, I just take it slowly and ask one question at a time. Usually when we pray, we burn joss paper and incense while telling the god what we want.

You usually pray to Yue Lao when looking for love. But now, you can also go to Yue Lao when looking for concert tickets. This new strategy is quickly becoming a mainstay among idol fans.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Hotels hire foreign students as quasi migrant workers

Taiwan’s migrant worker population continues to grow, amid a looming labor shortage in many so-called “unskilled” positions. Companies in manufacturing have long employed cheap labor from Southeast Asian countries, and many caregivers are foreign workers. As of February this year, Taiwan had 860,000 migrant workers, more than 70% of whom are Indonesian or Vietnamese. In recent years, even the hospitality sector has been employing international students through vocational programs and university courses, blurring the line between students and migrant workers.

This busboy replenishing the plates at this restaurant in a 5-star hotel is a university student from Indonesia.

The chef making beef noodles fresh to order is also foreign.

Chen Han-yu
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Nowadays, many vocational colleges and universities have courses to attract students from Southeast Asia, so there are a lot of international students. As part of the courses, they visit the hotel and have a look around. We also get interns from vocational schools abroad that we have partnerships with.

The hospitality industry and educational institutions have rolled out programs that bring foreign students to work at hotels as quasi migrant workers. These students can be considered part of Taiwan’s migrant worker population, which has grown significantly amid severe labor shortages.

Taiwan had 860,000 migrant workers in February this year, according to the Ministry of Labor. They are mainly from Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. Taiwan ranks third in Asia for total numbers, behind Japan with 2.57 million migrant workers and South Korea with 1.1 million.

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Yeh Wei-hsiang
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TSMC is taking good care of employees, who can choose one out of five practical but stylish goods, or a NT$2,000 gift card. There’s a 28-inch luggage perfect for traveling and a rice cooker. This pair of sneakers is also quite covetable, even if it’s not the same as the CEO’s.

Last December, on TSMC Sports Day, CEO C. C. Wei stole the show with a pair of black-and-white sneakers featuring the TSMC logo.

Last year’s 20-inch suitcase now goes for NT$3,000 to NT$5,000 on pre-owned platforms. For this year’s 28-inch model, some buyers are already willing to pay as much as NT$19,000. This year’s rice cooker features a silicon wafer-inspired steamer rack and TSMC logos on the handles. Buyers are willing to part with NT$9,000 for it. That is despite the fact that the registration period for TSMC employee souvenirs isn’t even over yet.

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I’d choose the rice cooker, because it’s a commemorative edition. You can’t buy it elsewhere.

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I might choose the luggage. We already have a rice cooker at home, so there’s no need for another.

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I often go hiking, so I might go for the sneakers.

Thanks to scarcity, brand value and technology-inspired design, TSMC employee souvenirs are looked forward to every year, by both employees and the pre-owned market.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Vegetable garden helps fund home for disabled youth

After raising a child with disabilities, one father from Chiayi founded a non-profit organization that provides full-time care for people with disabilities. Moved by his passion, the Chang Yung-fa Charity Foundation donated NT$3 million to build a greenhouse vegetable garden for the organization, helping the people in its care to be more self-sufficient and increasing the organization’s income.

Following the teacher’s instructions, people in red shirts use scissors to cut and harvest vegetables. On the other side of the greenhouse, others carefully plant seedlings in the soil.

This is the Jochuerh Foundation’s greenhouse, and the hard-working people in red shirts all have disabilities. After learning simple skills, they can grow vegetables themselves, becoming more self-sufficient.

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This is not just a vegetable. It’s a union of benevolence, of great benevolence. Giving these kids healthy food to eat means fewer hospital visits, and that’s truly wonderful.

Lin Peng-hui founded this organization over 20 years ago. He and his wife adopted a son 41 years ago, and later discovered he had cerebral palsy. As they cared for their son, they realized that many families were facing similar struggles, so Lin founded the organization to provide a comfortable residence for children with disabilities. They hire staff split between three shifts to provide care full-time. The Chang Yung-fa Charity Foundation donated NT$3 million to build this greenhouse vegetable garden, showing its support for the organization.

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We had the opportunity to meet Mr. Lin. I think he has a huge heart, helping these children with disabilities to grow up and continuously caring for them. What he grows here is not just vegetables, but love, hope, and vitality.

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Growing vegetables or farming is a great form of healing and therapy. It helps calm the mind, body, and spirit.

With the vegetable garden, the Jochuerh Foundation saves NT$60,000 every month. As the harvest stabilizes in the future, it can even provide the foundation with additional income. Those in the foundation’s care also gain a healthy, therapeutic new skill by caring for the garden.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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