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1-4 History of the Dacun Grape Industry

The development of the grape industry in Dacun Township, Changhua County, is a very special story. From the beginning, the government promoted the planting of wine grapes, and then switched to the planting of Japanese Kyoho Grape, which has turned this area into Taiwan's famous "hometown of grapes". Over the past 50 years, farmers have continued to improve their grape varieties and techniques, making the grape industry more and more prosperous.

In 1955, the government wanted to find suitable raw materials for winemaking, so it promoted the planting of "Jinxiang Grapes" in Dacun Township, as these grapes are moderately sweet and sour, and are very suitable for white winemaking. By 1963, there were already 30 hectares of vineyards in Dacun Township, mainly located in Meigang Village and Gougou Village, and a small-scale industry had begun to form. However, at that time, farmers felt that the market demand for wine grapes was not high and the price was not too high, so grape growing was not a major source of income.

What really changed the situation was when Mr. Pingfang Lai  brought back six Kyoho Grapes from Japan in 1964. He planted the grapes in front of his house and found that they grew well and adapted to Taiwan's climate, and in 1965 he began to promote the cultivation of Kyoho Grape, which were very popular in the market because of their large and sweet fruits. By 1980, the vineyards in Dacun Township had expanded to 700 hectares, accounting for 35% of the local arable land.

During this period of time, Dacun Township's grape-growing techniques have also improved greatly. Farmers have improved from the original trellis-type planting to a biannual harvest, and have also begun to organize production and marketing classes to make the quality of the grapes and the way they are sold more professional. Farmers also invented the bagging technique to ensure that the grapes looked beautiful and tasted good. At this time, high-quality Kyoho Grape can sell for  600 NTD per 2.5 kilograms, three times more expensive than previous varieties.

After the 1980s, consumer demand for grapes increased, and farmers began to change their planting practices to improve the quality of their grapes. They learned to trim the grapes so that the grapes in each bunch were of uniform size, and it became common to use bagging to avoid pests and pesticide residues. These techniques not only made the grapes tastier, but also allowed them to meet more stringent inspection standards and even be exported to Japan.

In the 21st century, the grape industry in Dacun Township has not only grown and sold grapes, but has also integrated tourism, allowing more people to come and experience grape harvesting, taste food, and even visit the winemaking process. Since 2005, the "Dacun Grape Culture Season" has been held every year, attracting many visitors. There is also a 50-year-old vine here, known as the "King of Grapes" by the locals. Although there are only two old vines left, it is still the pride of Dacun Village. 

To make grapes easier to grow, experts have also developed new varieties, such as "Taichung No. 1-5", which are less susceptible to disease and more suitable for organic farming. Currently, there are about 460 hectares of vineyards in Dacun Township, which can create more than 1.2 billion NTD  of production value every year, accounting for 60% of Changhua County's total grape production.