Home > 5The challenges and difficulties of the grape industry-Home page > 5-1External challenges

5-1 External challenges

Globalization has intensified market competition, with imported European grapes, due to their better storage and transportability, occupying 35% of Taiwan's high-end grape market. This has led to a decrease in the prices of Dacun grapes; for instance, the wholesale price in 2022 was 12.3% lower than in 2019. Furthermore, imported grapes, with their standardized grading system, have changed consumer perceptions of grape quality, challenging the traditional Dacun grapes, which rely on taste as the main evaluation criterion.

The COVID-19 pandemic was also a major test. During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2021, a cluster infection among grape traders in Changhua raised concerns about the safety of grapes, causing a 41.7% cancellation rate of grape orders across Taiwan within 72 hours. Although some farmers turned to online sales, logistics problems still caused 15.2% of the grapes to spoil.

Additionally, changes in environmental regulations have also become a headache for farmers. Starting in 2023, the government banned open-air burning of grapevines, with violators facing fines of at least 1,200 NTD. Farmers are forced to seek alternative solutions, such as biochar technology, but this method is more costly than traditional burning, adding to their financial burden.