Typhoon Bavi causes damage of NT$2.88 million to jujube farmers

Typhoon Bavi causes damage of NT$2.88 million to jujube farmers

2026-07-13

Jujube farmers in Miaoli are despairing, after all their hard work this year was ruined due to Typhoon Bavi last week. Jujubes are a key agricultural industry in the county. The sector got a nasty surprise just as the harvest was underway. The storm caused fruit to drop from trees and to crack, making it unsalvageable. The county commissioner joined agriculture officials to inspect the damage in Gongguan Township, where farmers estimate they’ve lost 50% of their crops. Let’s hear more.

Jujube farmer
Miaoli
Look at all this. Not one of them is good. They’re all cracked.

Jujube farmer
Miaoli
We hired three people to harvest them at NT$200 per hour. Only these few are salvageable. It’s a total loss if you factor in labor costs.

Chung Tung-chin
Miaoli Commissioner
I’ll talk with the council on behalf of our farmers, to see whether our county can subsidize part of the harvesting labor costs.

Hsu Chi-ming
Kung-Kuan Farmers’ Association
Production has been halved. Of the 50 tons we produced in all of Gongguan, we’ve been left with just 25 tons.

Gongguan and the nearby Tongluo Township estimate that some 20 hectares of jujube orchards were affected. Estimated monetary losses total some NT$2.88 million. The area received more than 100mm of rain in a span of 24 hours, which meets the central government’s threshold to be considered a disaster for mature jujube trees. Farmers can apply for disaster relief of NT$80,000 per hectare. The county government says it will provide assistance with the process.

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#jujube #crop #farming #farmlife #countryside

巴威重創! 苗栗紅棗"嚴重落果.裂果" 估損失288萬

2026-07-13

紅棗是苗栗重要的產業，好不容易進入採收期，卻因為巴威颱風過境帶來的大雨，造成紅棗落果、裂果嚴重，縣長鍾東錦及農政單位到紅棗園勘災，公館鄉農會反映受損面積約5成，鍾東錦強調縣府將協助果農向中央申請農業天然災害救助。##

[[紅棗農]]
“你看看這個，這沒有一個好的啦，你看，這都裂掉啦”

[[紅棗農]]
“請3個工人採，一個小時要200元，好的剩這麼一點點，工錢算進去是血本無歸”

[[苗栗縣長鍾東錦]]
“幫果農跟議會商量一下，我們縣府是不是也補助一部份，採果的工錢”

[[公館鄉農會理事長徐集明]]
“產量預估現在損失差不多一半，我們公館所有產量差不多50公噸，剩下差不多25公噸了”

公館鄉和銅鑼鄉公所初步查報被害面積合計約20公頃，估計損失金額為288萬元；7月11日公館鄉及銅鑼鄉24小時累積雨量超過100毫米以上，達到成熟果期災害性天氣參數標準，可提報中央公告現金救助，紅棗每公頃救助金8萬元。

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The owner of this pan-fried dumpling stand and her daughter bow to the camera in apology, not because of any food safety scare, but because they have to raise prices by NT$3 due to rising costs.

Customer
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I don’t think she needs to apologize. It’s already a good price.

- Do you think NT$3 more is too much?
- No.
- Is it OK for you?
- Totally fine.

Even at NT$18, customers found the price to be reasonable. This stand in Taichung has been in business for years, selling scallion, pork, and cabbage dumplings for NT$15 apiece. But with soaring inflation and the price of cabbage fluctuating wildly, the owner said she couldn’t handle it any longer.

Stand owner
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I asked ChatGPT and it said that although NT$17 is the ideal number, we’d go out of business. Raising it to NT$18 would be a minor change that people could accept. If we raised it to NT$20, we would make more, but people would hate us.

Unwilling to anger their customers by hiking prices by NT$5 at once, the owner decided just to raise it by the minimum NT$3. She was prepared to be criticized, but was pleasantly surprised to be met with praise instead. Over the past few days, they’ve even welcomed new customers looking to support them.

- They’re packed with filling and are crispy outside, not soggy at all.
- Would you buy it again for NT$18?
- Yeah, definitely.

This father and son pair found the "buy 10 get one free” deal to be a bargain. Their customers as a whole have found the price to be reasonable and hope they can stay in business so everyone can enjoy this affordable treat.

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Five-star hotel offers local Tainan favorites targeting summer travelers

Summer vacation is here, and hotels are pulling out all the stops to entice families to visit. One five-star hotel in Taipei is offering the most popular local bites from Tainan to bring in the crowds, including stir-fried eel noodles and seafood pot noodles. Even the glutinous rice cakes and shrimp meatballs from hugely popular Tainan restaurants can be enjoyed in the comfort of high-class buffet restaurants. As the stock market continues to hit record highs, people aren’t skimping on a delicious night out.

A wok is heated until is glows red. Then comes the oil, quickly followed by eel stir-fried in the roaring flames and tossed with noodles. After mere seconds, this meal of Tainan eel noodles is ready to serve.

Full of fresh shrimp, scallops, and abalone, this seafood pot is tossed fresh in noodles for the most authentic southern flavor. Now, the best of Tainan’s cuisine can be enjoyed right in Taipei.

Mr. Liu
Rice cake restaurant owner
This recipe was passed down to me by my grandmother. I hope to pass down this kind of rice cake through any means.

Wei Shih-chang
Shrimp meatball restaurant owner
We try to keep it as close to its authentic, original taste as possible. Partnering with a hotel means they’ll help us generate exposure, whether for our shop or for Tainan as a whole.

This five-star hotel in Taipei invited famous restaurants in Tainan to bring their specialities up north. These gelatinous rice cakes are even served in traditional wooden barrels and bicycles from the Japanese era. The freshly steamed shrimp meatballs are delicious with a drizzle of sauce. And be sure to follow it up with a refreshing cup of A Mei Ma’s tea. With the stock market hitting new highs, more people are willing to splurge on buffets than ever before.

Member of public
Doesn’t look at price
The stock market has given me more pocket money lately, so it makes you want to spend a bit more, like on travel abroad or restaurants. I don’t even look at the price so much.

Chen Mu-shan
Hotel marking assistant manager
We brought in several legacy shops from Tainan to launch this Tainan Food Culture Festival. Driven by the stock market’s performance, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in dining voucher sales and reservations, which have boosted revenue by 10% to 20%.

The hotel is also offering more bang for your buck by giving out raffle tickets for traditional Tainan pudding and creative products, including a grand prize of a dining voucher for NT$20,000.

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Keelung aquarium to issue measures combatting illegal temporary parking

Although the Regional Exploration Gallery at Keelung’s National Museum of Marine Science and Technology has paid parking lots, finding a space is often incredibly difficult. Looking to cheat the system, some drivers have chosen to park for free in the pickup and drop-off zone, even though it’s meant for loading and unloading passengers. The illegal parking has sparked public outrage, leading the museum to respond by vowing to formulate corresponding measures.

As far as the eye can see, every parking space under this bridge is taken. There isn’t even a spot to park along the road. Even the paid parking lots are full. Drivers looking to stop in this drop-off space for a few minutes can understand if there are a few cars parked there, but the entire row? That’s too much.

Member of public
Angry at rule breakers
It’s long-term parking! Some people even park their scooters there to hold the space. We often see cars parked there for a long time that never move.

Member of public
Angry at rule breakers
It’s ridiculous. Those are spaces set aside by the museum for people to drop off or pick up passengers. If you park there, people won’t know where to catch their ride.

This area is just outside the Regional Exploration Gallery of Keelung’s National Museum of Marine Science and Technology. It’s clearly meant for short-term pickup and drop-off, but recently, it’s become a regular lot where people like to park long-term. Law-abiding drivers looking for a legitimate space have been left feeling like fools.

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As a semi-automatic wok turns, waves of a rich crispy aroma permeate the air

- You have to stir it or it will get stuck and burn.

This jerky and pork floss shop in Yuanlin City in Changhua has been in business for 40 years and has strong appeal for customers spanning three generations.

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Long time regular
We’ve been eating this for three generations, from my father-in-law’s generation, to when I married into the family, to our children, and now our grandchildren. We all love these flavors. So now that we’ve finished it, we’ve come back to buy more.

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Loves jerky
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Discerning customers can tell with one bite that the owner uses only fresh, warm pork to maintain its elasticity.

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Second-generation owner
Our pork comes from freshly slaughtered pork that is never chilled. It’s processed immediately upon arrival, ensuring the meat is very fresh because only fresh meat has elasticity.

When Chang Yu-tsung, 37, was at university, his father suddenly passed away. He was unable to bear seeing his mother struggling alone. He decided to suspend his studies and take over the family business, the pork floss and jerky shop.

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It’s about passing on the legacy. After all, it’s the result of the meticulous work of my father and mother a generation ago. If we can continue it well, we’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment.

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A scooter driver was cruising down the road, nothing amiss, when out of nowhere, huge sheets of metal came crashing down. One second later, and it could’ve been the end for the motorist. A heart-stopping fright for sure.

Local
Yangmei District
Terrifying! It might’ve been the typhoon. Maybe the metal sheets were old, and the wind ripped them off.

- They must have come from that building, I think.

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- No, no. They finished the day before. Wednesday or Thursday.

And it’s not only metal falling from the sky. Over in New Taipei’s Xinzhuang District, three huge brick ornaments on a building’s façade were ripped off the wall and slammed onto several scooters parked below.

Voice of scooter owner
Scooter got damaged
I saw it when I was about to get on my scooter. Chunks of the façade came off and destroyed the headlights completely. The building management told me to leave my phone number, but they haven’t called me! Not yesterday nor today! They hadn’t even fenced the area off last night, and they let people keep walking past.

The crash site has since been cordoned off, and warnings have been put up. But the scooter owner says the most infuriating thing is the response from management. On a social media post he said, “It was just a scooter this time, but what if it had crushed someone?”

Voice of scooter owner
Scooter got damaged
It’s not the first time that the façade crumbled. If this is their attitude when a vehicle gets damaged, what would it be if a person got hurt?

Lee Yu-sheng
Lawyer
In the case that tiles or other items fall off the façade and damage someone’s property, the law presumes the committee to be negligent in its management duties if it cannot produce evidence that it fulfilled its maintenance responsibilities. And, if they failed to put up no-parking signs, the committee would be held civilly liable for compensation.

The scooter owner says he just hopes the building’s management will take the matter seriously in order to prevent a potential tragedy.

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On July 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished US Senator Graham a happy belated birthday. Many found it hard to believe that this would be the Republican heavyweight’s last public appearance.

Anchor
CNN
It was a brief and sudden illness.

Graham became a senator back in 2003, and two decades later he served as one of Donald Trump’s closest political allies. After turning 71 on July 9, Graham ended up suddenly passing away just two days after his birthday.

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A friend of mine for a long time. We don’t always agree, but that’s okay, too. But he’s a great guy, a great politician, actually, and a terrific person who loves your state.

One of the Republican presidential candidates for the 2016 election cycle, Graham exerted significant influence over his party. President Trump ordered flags nationwide to be flown at half-staff to honor the late US Senator Graham. President Lai Ching-te also posted a message on X that expressed he was “deeply saddened by the sudden passing” of Graham and that the US senator was “a true friend of Taiwan.”

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What would America do if the communist Chinese invaded Taiwan? We’re here in this part of the world not to conquer, but to be a good ally. If America abandons Taiwan, it will change the world fundamentally for the worst.

Graham never wavered in his support for Taiwan. He visited Taiwan three times, including an April 2022 bipartisan congressional delegation he led that flew to Taiwan on a US military aircraft. Tsai Ing-wen was the president back during that visit, and the delegation was the first item on Tsai’s agenda after her home quarantine was finished. Graham introduced the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022, which was seen as a breakthrough for US-Taiwan relations, as it involved arms sales from the US.

Jean Kuo
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I’m incredibly saddened to hear of his passing. Going forward, we’ll need to continue working with a bipartisan approach that involves up and coming American members of Congress. By not differentiating between Democrats and Republicans, we’ll be able to establish channels of communication that’ll ensure the efforts of those in the US Congress who support Taiwan will be able to continue to offer their support.

Graham’s office confirmed his cause of death was an aortic dissection. Graham had intended to run for a 5th term as senator, which is a goal that, like Graham’s sudden passing, ended on July 11.

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Chiayi County commissioner candidate makes his chubby figure his brand

DPP legislator Tsai Yi-yu is turning his chubby physique into his badge of pride. The politician was even previously told by President Tsai Ing-wen to lose weight. Now he’s running for Chiayi County Commissioner in the year-end local elections and he’s made fat his personal brand. He’s designed a multicolored business card in an anime style that even says he is the “nimble fat corps”. Let’s find out more.

Legislator Tsai Yi-yu seems to have mastered some kind of superpower, moving freely in the water. It turns out he is flyboarding, but unfortunately, he was too heavy, and half of him ends up submerged in water.

With increased horsepower Tsai managed the heroic posture of an aquatic iron man, but only for a few seconds. Despite weighing over 100kg, Tsai is agile, but he can’t get rid of his chubby frame, which he simply uses to make fun of himself.

- The “nimble fat corps.” Here are the addresses of my Puzi service center and Shuishang service center.

Upon closer inspection, Tsai Yi-yu’s business card completely breaks away from tradition; it doesn’t resemble a business card at all, but rather a game card. It turns out this is an anime-style card he creatively designed himself, with his personal information presented in the style of a game character introduction.

Tsai Yi-yu
Chiayi County Commissioner candidate (DPP)
RPGs give characters abilities and levels. Level 109 was my weight, but then I felt it was a bit embarrassing, so I just made the level infinite.

Chiayi County resident
Likes the business card
It’s very creative. I’d like to collect it.

Not only are his business cards incredibly eye-catching, but his canned wet wipes co-branded with the mayoral candidate for Chiayi’s Taibao, Lu Hui-yu, also feature an anime style, aiming to capture the votes of young people.

Chiayi County resident
Likes both candidates
The two of them must work together; only then can they create a win-win situation.

Tsai, who has served three terms as a legislator, is now running for Chiayi County Commissioner. This nimble fat man will continue to navigate the political arena.

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