This investigation has helped me learn a lot about grapes. I discovered that there are many varieties of grapes, and they are divided into wine grapes and table grapes. I learned about the history of grapes, the reasons for introducing them, their growing environment, main products, planting areas, and how they are produced and marketed. As the person responsible for Subtopic 3, Grape Economy, I had to carefully reference various sources and understand the current economic situation. I had to figure out how to attract customers, especially since the economy is not doing well. The average annual consumption of grapes has dropped from 2.1 kg to 1.8 kg, but the average price per unit has increased, reflecting the shift in consumer behavior towards valuing quality even if it means reducing purchase frequency. The difficulty we faced was that everyone had their own tasks, so it was hard to meet for long discussions. Therefore, we took advantage of the winter break when everyone had free time to meet and discuss.

Having grown up in Dacun, the hometown of grapes, I have always had a deep impression of them. Although we faced many difficulties, such as not being able to discuss together due to participation in other activities, we solved this problem by using our lunch break and after-school time for discussions. This project allowed me to learn a lot about the history and knowledge of grapes. Grapes have a long history and are closely connected with the development of human civilization. They were cultivated in the Middle East as early as 6,000 to 8,000 years ago and became one of humanity's important crops. Grapes are not only consumed fresh but are also made into wine, a fermented drink that played an important role in ancient societies, from religious ceremonies to banquets and even in medicine. Grapes have become a global economic crop, and today, they are widely used not only for winemaking but also in fresh fruit, dried fruit, juices, and other food industries, beloved by people around the world. Through the history of grapes, we can see how humans have enriched their lives through agricultural innovation and cultural exchange.

This project helped me learn a lot of new knowledge, such as the story of grapes, the production environment, the grape economy, and grape products. Although it is difficult to pass on this knowledge to the next generation, we must try to preserve this industry. This project also helped me understand more about the grapes in my hometown. We faced many difficulties, such as some classmates not being able to join discussions due to competitions and our different class schedules making it harder for us to meet. Therefore, we used the time during the winter break to come together and discuss at school.

This competition taught me that both soil and moisture have specific requirements. For example, the pH value should be between 6.0 and 7.5, the soil moisture during the bud break period should be 70-75%, and during the growth period, the moisture should not exceed 60%. During the fruit enlargement stage, water should be replenished every 7 to 10 days. Excess moisture can make the fruit smaller. This also helped us understand the hard work and dedication of farmers. During the process, we encountered many difficulties, such as some students being unavailable for discussions because they were playing or practicing track and field, others being sick, or having other commitments. However, this competition really taught me a lot about things I usually wouldn't pay attention to. With the explanation from the farmers, everything became clear.

Climate has a significant impact on grape growth, especially temperature and sunlight, with 25°C being the optimal temperature. The soil in Changhua vineyards ranges from loam to clay soil, which has strong fertility retention but requires supplementation with trace elements such as iron and zinc. Water has a major influence on grapevines, and managing moisture levels is very important. During the budding stage, large amounts of irrigation are needed, and the soil humidity should be maintained at 70-75%, which helps the winter buds to sprout more uniformly. The nutrients needed for grape growth, especially nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, vary at different growth stages. For example, more nitrogen fertilizer is needed during the budding stage. Pest and disease control is crucial for Kyoho grapes. During flowering, fungicides can prevent powdery mildew and bunch stem brown rot. Bordeaux mixture is used for cleaning to reduce the number of pathogens.

This research project allowed me to better understand the grapes that are commonly found in our daily lives. Grapes are a local specialty of our hometown. Although I grew up in Dacun, I didn't know much about grapes. This was my first time seriously spending time studying the history and process of grapes. I learned that grapes are an ancient fruit, and not every variety has seeds. Grapes can be eaten fresh, made into raisins, or turned into wine. Some regions have started cultivating sweeter grapes that are more suitable for winemaking. During the research process, we encountered many difficulties, such as not being able to coordinate everyone's schedules, having difficulty understanding what the teacher said, and dealing with other personal matters. It was hard to discuss together for long periods, and we didn’t know where to focus our efforts.

This research project has taught me a lot about grapes, such as the different types of grapes, methods for planting and harvesting grapes, and I also had the chance to taste many grape-based products like raisins, grape jelly, and grape vinegar. Grapes are truly a nutritious and wonderful fruit. However, due to the unpredictable climate changes, issues like non-fruiting or cracked fruit occur, affecting production levels. Additionally, taking care of grapevines is very labor-intensive and requires a lot of manpower. In the Dacun area, most of the fruit farmers are elderly, and without the help of young people, the industry struggles to sustain itself. During the process of participating in this research, the teacher asked me to collect data on vine management. Since I had little experience, I couldn't find relevant reference information by inputting keywords. With the teacher's help, I was able to complete my part. So, I learned that selecting the right keywords when gathering information is really important!

This research project has taught me a lot about grapes and also made me aware of the challenges and difficulties faced by the grape industry. In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the grape industry as well. Moreover, as the original grape farmers are aging and only a few young farmers are joining, this has become a major issue affecting the industry's sustainability. We hope that through our research, more people will learn about the benefits of Dacun grapes.