Shigang Farmers’ Association eyes export of 150 tonnes of Taichung murcott tangerine this year

KUALA LUMPUR: Shigang District Farmers’ Association of Taichung City, Taiwan expects to export some 150 tonnes of Taichung murcott tangerine to Singapore, Canada, Malaysia and several other countries this year.

Director of the marketing department Fu Yu Chin said the first batch of Taichung murcott arrived in Malaysia on March 3.

“Taichung murcott is not only a popular gift during the Lunar New Year but is sold throughout the year in Taiwan. The growing conditions at Shigang are favourable for cultivating murcott and the fruits grown there are famous for their beautiful golden sheen, thin peel, succulent, fresh, and high nutritional value.

“The fruits are also packed in GlobalGAP and ISO 22000 certified facilities, so their quality is guaranteed,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He also added that in the spirit of local cooperation based on the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) framework, the Agricultural Bureau of Taichung City Government is collaborating with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to transform the Taichung Murcott into delectable Malaysian pastries.

“The students will be led by renowned Malaysian celebrity chef, Chef Johari Edrus (Chef Jo), to create these delicious treats,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chef Jo shared that he has been obsessed with the sweet and juicy Taiwanese murcott ever since he first tasted the fruit last year.

He said that this year, he had the opportunity to teach at UPM and naturally wanted to introduce these delicious murcotts to more Muslim friends.

“Those who wish to try these pastries need only visit L’apprenti Deli at the UPM campus from March 29 to April 4 and order the pastries from the special menu.

“The limited-edition pastries include murcott marmalade and scones, murcott coconut-filled crepe rolls, and murcott danish that are guaranteed to tickle your tastebuds,” he said.

The Taichung murcotts are available for purchase from March 8, 2024, at many merchants across Malaysia, including Harvest Impact, Aeon, Jaya Grocer, Star Grocer, Whole Foods Express, Just Fruits, Dr Fruit, iFruit Market and Fujin Kuching.

Director of the Taiwan Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Eva Peng said Malaysia and Taiwan have long enjoyed excellent bilateral relationships, particularly in trade and investment, fostering shared prosperity and strategic alliances.

She added that Taiwan is currently Malaysia’s eighth source of foreign direct investments, with a total amount exceeding US$14.7 billion (US$1=RM4.68).

“According to statistics from the Taiwan Customs Department, bilateral trade between both sides reached US$24.8 billion in 2023.

“We aspire to further promote Taiwan’s high-quality brands in Malaysia, ensuring that Taiwan’s voice continues to resonate and its strength remains evident,” she said.