Abundant Persimmon Harvest

This year has seen bumper harvests for persimmon farmers all over Chiayi and throughout Taiwan, with a marked increase in yields from last year. With beef-heart persimmon production mainly centered in Chiayi, the local yield of this variety has been particularly high, forecasted at around 500-600 thousand catties. Forecasts for the Japanese Persimmon Kaki variety are estimated at around 200 thousand catties. 

Chen Wen-pin, consultant of ‘Entrepreneurship Guidance’ at the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed the versatility of persimmons. The history of persimmons as a healthy product goes back many years – persimmon leaves can be used to brew a unique tea, the peel contains persimmon dye that can be used in a wide assortment of products, and the flesh can be used to make popsicles and moon cakes etc. This flexibility means that persimmon farmers can benefit from an unending chain of economic possibilities. Therefore, the future development potential of this fruit looks extremely ‘tasty’ indeed.

A recreational farm in Hsinchu Sinpu has a number of teachers providing persimmon dying and clay work activities, where young and old alike can enjoy the fun. At the farm, there are a number of ‘persimmon aunties’ who abound with enthusiasm for the job, often forgetting about their own lunch in the process as they stand on wooden ladders gently working the drying persimmons. These ‘persimmon aunties’ not only do a wonderful job but also provide outstanding photo opportunities for amateur photographers. In addition, their conscientious working attitude has placed them in high esteem with the many visiting tourists. Everyone is warmly invited to come and enjoy a different kind of tour, experiencing the fun of working with this bright orange fruit that signifies good luck and auspiciousness in Taiwanese culture.   

Abundant Persimmon Harvest (by CJ Jerry)

URL:http://www.peopo.org/news/84407

(以下為中文對照)
柿季豐收,好柿連連(CJ Jerry)

柿農今年產量豐收，嘉義地區以及各地柿子的產量，都比去年成長許多。牛心柿由於分佈多半在嘉義地區，因為種植面積最廣，產量也最多，今年預估產量約為五十~六十萬，筆柿預估產量可達到二十萬台斤。

行政院青年輔導委員會青年創業輔導創業顧問陳文彬表示，柿子功用很多，文獻記載能夠幫助健康，柿子茶葉也能泡茶，口味獨特，也能作成冰棒、月餅等等，連柿子削下來的果皮，也衍生出許多「柿染」相關週邊商品，柿子為果農帶來源源不絕的經濟能量，未來發展潛力不容小?。

在 新竹新埔一處觀光農場中，園區內假日都有柿染老師，提供柿染和黏土的教學，家長和小孩都玩得不亦樂乎。園區內有多位認真工作的「柿餅婆」，對工作十分熱 忱，有時連午餐都忘了吃，繼續站在木梯上，不斷按揉柿子，不只為了本身柿餅的工作，也提供攝影愛好者許多取景的機會，不少遊客都對柿餅婆認真的工作態度， 與對人那份永遠丕變的濃厚人情味，感到十分敬佩。柿子外表討喜的亮桔色，也象徵著好事連連，好運不斷，歡迎大家前來參觀新埔的柿餅，體驗揉柿子的手感，用 新的方式，來感受農村另一份不同的旅遊趣味。

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