Tainan: The Tainan City government announced its ambition to transform initial business deals into long-standing orders following the shipment of a 7,000-kilogram batch of diced frozen Irwin mangoes to Japan.
According to Focus Taiwan, this shipment marks the first time that Irwin mangoes, Taiwan's most popular variety, have been exported to Japan in a diced, frozen form.
The agreement was finalized between Japanese businesses and Taiwanese farmers at FOODDEX Japan 2026, described as Asia's largest food and beverage trade show, which took place in Tokyo from March 10 to 13. At a press event, Mayor Huang Wei-che emphasized the significance of this shipment as a result of the city's promotional activities in Japan, including trade shows and outreach events aimed at broadening sales channels.
Huang also mentioned that the frozen mangoes will be highlighted at a Taiwan-themed event in Tokyo on April 4 to assess market response and enhance brand visibility. He pointed out the competitive nature of the Japanese market, noting that products must meet stringent distribution and consumer acceptance standards to secure stable sales and expand orders.
He stated that collaboration between central and local governments has led to the gradual expansion of products like mangoes, pineapples, and dragon fruit in the Japanese market. "Future efforts will focus on integrating production resources with international distribution channels and strengthening connections with consumer markets," the mayor added.
Tainan Agriculture Bureau Director Li Fang-lin highlighted that the shipment underwent numerous on-site factory inspections and rigorous quality testing by the Japanese side. Local producers employed liquid nitrogen freezing technology to maintain the mangoes' texture and aroma post-thawing, with total shipments projected to reach 15,000 kilograms. Li also mentioned plans to establish a stable export model, with frozen pineapple and fruit juices being considered for future export markets.
Source: Focus Taiwan