TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) pledged to instruct the Ministry of Agriculture to continue supporting the Taipei Fruit and Vegetable Market renovation project, including the introduction of cold-chain equipment, improvements to the auction system, and reducing cardboard use to promote sustainability.
Cho, along with Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季), Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川), and DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶), toured the Taipei First Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market’s renovation project on Sunday, per CNA. Located in Wanhua District, the market’s redevelopment began in July 2020 and is expected to be completed by 2031. The upgraded facility will feature wholesale areas for produce and seafood.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the market accounts for about one-third of the nation’s wholesale trading volume, making it Taiwan’s largest. To keep operations running during construction, the city government has set up a temporary market next to the project site.
Cho said the Cabinet has approved over NT$17 billion (US$580 million) to help the city government improve the market. Once completed, the Cabinet will continue supporting the new facility with unloading areas, cold storage, and an upgraded auction system. Chen added that the ministry also provided NT$220 million to Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corp. for cold-chain equipment.
To cut carbon emissions, the ministry has since 2022 encouraged market vendors to replace cardboard boxes with reusable folding crates. The ministry said the crates, used with forklifts and pallets, have helped improve automated operations at the market.
Lee thanked Cho for supporting the renovation project, adding that the city government will use the budget provided by the Cabinet to complete the project’s first phase by May.
Cho added that the government has strengthened the nation’s agricultural product and meat storage infrastructure, including building 10 large logistics centers, upgrading 19 wholesale markets, and improving five inspection facilities.
Another renovated market in Wanhua District opened in February, featuring two basements and six above-ground floors with over 1,300 stalls. Dongmen Market in Daan District is set for demolition in May, and its replacement — a nine-story building with four basement levels — is expected to be completed by 2030.
