Prairie gentians help Xingang blossom

The prairie gentian (Eustoma russellianum, also known as Matsu flowers) industry sprung up in Xingang over twenty years ago. Thanks to long-term cooperation with Japan, more than 40 varieties of prairie gentian have been bred, each with a different color and pattern. Popular at home and abroad, prairie gentians come in all shapes and sizes, some like peonies and some like roses.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, transportation costs have increased, and prairie gentian sellers have turned to the domestic market. Initially, prices tumbled due to oversupply. However, thanks to the help of the government and NGOs, losses have been minimized. Prairie gentians are popular in Japan, and new varieties are always coming onto the market. Still, regardless of their shape, size, or appearance, they are all the fruit of painstaking work by Xingang farmers and Xingang Farmers’ Association.

以下為中文對照

新港洋桔梗 綻放在地風光

洋桔梗，在嘉義新港發展超過二十年，又被稱作媽祖花，在長期與日本合作下已育種超過40種品種，洋桔梗有多種品系，每一種品系也有不同顏色，且花型豐富，有的像牡丹，有的像玫瑰，多樣的造型讓國內外的消費者都很喜歡。

由於新冠肺炎影響使得運輸成本上升，導致洋桔梗銷售需轉向國內市場，原本會因供過於求而價格下跌，但在政府及民間單位的合作下，整體上並沒有太大的損失。隨著日本流行，洋桔梗快速生產不同的品種，但不管是什麼樣貌，都是新港花農及農會的心血結晶。