"台灣因香蕉而焦頭爛額"

台灣的香蕉出口量急遽下滑，農家拿到的價錢亦同。

北蕉是唐蕉的一種，北蕉為台灣最常種植的蕉類，但可能即將來個大改造。台灣香蕉研究機構希望能夠將香蕉的形象重新塑造成一種高級品，吸引人們用更高的價格購買。該機構的主管趙治平表示：「我們的目標是將台灣的香蕉塑造成一種品牌，並吸引會願意因為水果較好吃且用更安全的方法種植，而額外多付些錢的消費者。」

這機構視鳳梨市場為一例。鳳梨酥當初一建立起台灣名產的形象，銷售就一飛沖天。農糧署的主管莊老達表示：「我們曾希望香蕉酥能夠成為下一個鳳梨酥，但那沒成功。」台灣的香蕉也曾作成脆片、布丁和自製酒，但截至目前為止都沒能達成期望。

香蕉的其他出路包含了：萃取色胺酸作為抗憂鬱劑、採收莖和纖維作為布料，併使用香蕉皮作為抗氧化劑。減重補充食品的營養粉末在日本越來越夯，這也是已成困獸的蕉農的另外一個出路。

(Business) Taiwan Goes Bananas Over Bananas

Bananas exports in Taiwan have fallen sharply, as have the prices farmers get for them.

Pei-Chiao bananas, the Cavendish variety most commonly grown in Taiwan, however, may soon get a makeover. The Taiwan banana Research Institute hopes to rebrand the bananas as a luxury item, enticing people to buy more at a premium price. Chao Chih-ping, director of the institute, stated, Our goal is to position Taiwanese bananas as a brand and appeal to consumers who are willing to pay extra for fruit because it tastes better and was grown using safer methods.

The institute is looking at the pineapple market as an example. Once pineapple cakes were established as a Taiwanese signature food, sales skyrocketed. Chuang Lao-da, a director at the Council of Agricultures Agriculture and Food Agency, states, We hoped that banana cake could be the next pineapple cake, but that hasnt happened. Bananas from Taiwan have also been made into chips, puddings and a domestic liquor, but have failed, thus far, to meet expectations.

Other options for the banana could include extracting tryptophan as an antidepressant, harvesting stems and fiber for textiles, and using the peels as an antioxidant. Nutritional powder, which is becoming popular as a weight loss supplement in Japan, is also an option for beleaguered banana farmers.

想聽語音請上FunDay