Reported by Li Li-Fa (李立法), Pingtung

Taiwan’s first international-grade Freshness Logistics Center officially opened today in the Agricultural Biotechnology Park, with Premier Su Tseng-Chang stating that the facility will help stabilize domestic food supply and agricultural prices. He added that it is expected to significantly enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan’s agricultural products and expand their reach in global markets.

The Agricultural Biotechnology Park Administration stated that the first-phase facility of the International Freshness Logistics Center, built with an investment of NT$574 million, includes storage capacity for 1,360 chilled pallets and 7,800 frozen pallets, and complies with HACCP food safety standards. The facility provides processing and packaging capacity of up to 10 tons per day, along with additional functions such as ripening, vacuum pre-cooling, rapid freezing, and pressure-differential pre-cooling. The total floor area reaches approximately 10,100 square meters.

Hsieh Sheng-Hsin, Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Park Administration, stated that the International Freshness Logistics Center is currently leased and operated by Roundday Logistics. The facility provides a full range of cold chain services—from post-harvest handling, washing and sorting, fresh-cut processing, and packaging to cold storage and distribution—enhancing overall temperature-controlled storage and logistics capacity.

Su stated at the opening ceremony this morning that cold chain technologies and facilities can preserve the quality of agricultural and fishery products, enhance market competitiveness, regulate supply and demand, and stabilize prices. He noted that the first cold chain facility has been established in Pingtung, and in the future, additional national-level and regional cold chain centers will be developed based on the characteristics of agricultural and fishery products in different regions—elevating Taiwan’s agri-food distribution system to a new stage.

Minister of the Council of Agriculture Chen Chi-Chung pointed out that mastering the cold chain means gaining control over market pricing. In Taiwan, agricultural product prices often fluctuate due to supply–demand imbalances. With the establishment of freshness logistics centers, it will be possible to better regulate domestic supply and demand. He added that the Council of Agriculture will invest NT$12.6 billion to develop cold chain infrastructure for fruits and vegetables, aquatic products, and livestock—enhancing product quality and price stability, and expanding Taiwan’s agricultural products into global markets.

Reprinted from Liberty Times