The reason I left the family business was because the early sales model was extremely limited. Our persimmon cakes were mainly sold to wholesalers, who then resold them to fruit stalls. Whether we made a profit depended entirely on the wholesalers' whims. That was a problem that had existed for a long time.

Later, I returned to take over and started thinking about transformation. Around that time, Taiwan and mainland China signed a WTO-related trade agreement, allowing for large-scale imports of Chinese agricultural products. Because of their lower production costs, this had a huge impact on Taiwanese industries. Previously, there were 23 persimmon cake businesses in the area; now only 9 remain.

Besides import competition, the bigger problem was that "young people are unwilling to take over." This isn't just a problem in Taiwan; it's the same in Japan and South Korea. People generally lack interest in agriculture, feeling that the technology industry has a better future, leading to a severe industry gap and a shortage of labor. Many businesses went bankrupt, not only because they couldn't compete with imported products, but also because there was a lack of successors.

I myself am a fourth-generation descendant, and I initially didn't want to take over, but I didn't want this business to die in my hands, so I eventually came back. Many young people are unaware that their families have such a business, unless they've been introduced to it by elders from a young age and have experienced it firsthand.

Actually, Taiwan has introduced local industries like persimmon cakes in textbooks for a long time, but marketing efforts have been insufficient. In recent years, with the increase in tourists and the introduction of tour buses, the situation has gradually improved.

We were originally just a processing station. After I took over, I started marketing and applied to transform it into a tourist farm. However, I discovered that the biggest gap was with the younger generation. Therefore, I further applied for an educational farm, hoping to introduce children to local industries from a young age through school education.

I happen to be the president of a local elementary school, so I started with schools I'm familiar with, bringing students to learn about local industries, and then, from a local, national, and even global perspective, letting people know about the existence of this industry.

We are located in Hankeng, Xinpu Township, Hsinchu County. Persimmon cakes are actually a very important cultural industry for the Hakka people. Due to their long history of migration and refugees, the Hakka people are very skilled at drying and preserving food. Persimmon cakes are a highly nutritious and easy-to-carry food, and can be considered an early form of "refugee rations."

This technique was brought to Taiwan from mainland China by the Hakka people and has a history of over 400 years, while the persimmon cake industry in Hankeng has been developing for about 200 years.

In the early days, persimmon cake production was entirely dependent on the weather; if the drying process failed, the entire batch was wasted, making it a precious food that only the wealthy could afford. Later, my father invented drying equipment that allowed for mass production, unaffected by the weather, but the flavor differed greatly from traditional sun-drying methods.

I once considered using machines entirely, but then I remembered my grandmother's words: "When making food, you must have a conscience; either do it to the best of your ability, or don't do it at all." In the end, we chose to stick to the most traditional production methods. Although it was hard work, it made us the most distinctive and well-known.

Currently, there are nine persimmon cake businesses in Hankeng, but only a few have been able to transform into tourist businesses; the rest still mainly sell through wholesalers.

Imported products have had a huge impact on us, especially persimmon cakes from mainland China. They are not only cheaper but also often contain additives and even use Taiwanese brand names to sell, causing consumer confusion. Our persimmon cakes are springy and easily cracked when squeezed, while imported products can be shaped at will—the difference is very obvious. We don't choose to enter large distribution channels because the listing fees and multiple layers of commission make it impossible for small farmers to profit, while imported goods have a price advantage.

Therefore, I chose to start with education, letting children experience firsthand the difference between "food" and "products," and understand the importance of agriculture. Technology is certainly important, but without agriculture, humanity would struggle to survive.

I often ask my students a question: If the world ends and you have two shipping containers, one filled with electronics and the other with agricultural products, which would you choose? Most children would choose electronics, but after discussion, they begin to consider the true value of agriculture.

I won't force the next generation to take over the industry because I believe that only those who truly love it can do it well. Agriculture is no longer as arduous as it used to be. With proper management and marketing, it's possible to create value and have autonomy over time and life.

I hope that through education, children will remember this taste, this story, and even if they don't pursue a career in agriculture, they will still respect the land and cherish food. That would be a successful education.