Kiss Fruit Farm Introduction
Although winter is coming to an end and spring is approaching, visiting "QinQin Fruit Orchard" still requires pulling up one's collar to resist the occasional cold wind. However, even in the low temperatures that can be a bit unbearable, at "QinQin Fruit Orchard," we can see young farmers Fan Jiaqi and Lin Junwei diligently working in the vegetable garden without complaining. "QinQin Fruit Orchard" is located in Zhubei City, right beside a busy highway. Lin Junwei is spraying beneficial fungi in the vegetable garden. While the fungus is harmless to vegetables, it produces toxic proteins for insects. They adhere to a principle of pesticide-free organic farming, so in the face of a "pest crisis," they insist on not using pesticides and instead implement various biological controls in hopes of mitigating pest damage. Making Friends with Insects to Reduce Pest Damage "Sometimes when the pest damage is too severe, I simply 'communicate' with them, hoping they will eat the leaves that have no economic value. I won’t harm them; I just want to keep the cauliflower in the middle for myself," Fan Jiaqi said, pointing to the diamond cauliflower in the garden, whose leaves have been ravaged. This kind of "communication" has proven quite effective; "You see, the leaves are all eaten away, but the cauliflower in the middle is truly preserved for me. We leave each other a way to go." While the insects have given Fan Jiaqi a lifeline, the journey for these young farmers has not been so smooth. Fan Jiaqi and her husband Lin Junwei initially ran a shoe business, with a storefront and online sales. However, with Taobao entering the Taiwanese market, their original advantages vanished, leading to the end of their business. As the two contemplated their next steps, Fan Jiaqi's father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, and with her own pregnancy, she began to consider the importance of healthy eating, which sparked the idea of farming. At 40 years old, Lin Junwei, and 35 years old, Fan Jiaqi realized that farming is no easy task, especially when faced with the conventional farming practices of older generations, where the crops are bigger and more beautiful. Organic cultivation presents numerous challenges and is often not understood. Fan Jiaqi stated, "At that time, only my father supported my idea of farming. The rest, including my in-laws, did not agree, but my father is a recipient of the Shennong Award, with profound agricultural knowledge and experience, making him my best helper." Stepping into Young Farmers’ Path One Step at a Time Fan Jiaqi's father, who cultivates strawberries and has received the Shennong Award, has effectively become the best advisor for Fan Jiaqi and Lin Junwei in their farming endeavors. Whenever there is a problem in the fields, they frequently take photos to consult with her father, greatly reducing the mistakes of inexperienced young farmers. Sometimes, the wise father allows them to try making mistakes, so they can gain invaluable experience. Because her father is a strawberry farmer, "QinQin Fruit Orchard" mainly consists of three areas: two main strawberry fields and one vegetable garden. With creative minds, Fan Jiaqi and Lin Junwei made a commitment from the start to treat the land well using organic methods to grow healthy crops. In addition to their father's strong support, they continuously think about how to improve the efficiency of crop yields, and their use of "filter nets" has been remarkable. AC Filters Achieving Great Results One of the greatest troubles for strawberry farmers is the spread of powdery mildew. Typically, wind and bird nets are set up around strawberry farms, but they cannot completely prevent disease outbreaks. Fan Jiaqi had a sudden inspiration to use air conditioning filters instead of traditional windbreak nets, which may yield even better results. "It's really amazing; after setting up the filter nets, the interior of the net house remains warm in winter and cool in summer. During the cold wave that caused snowfall in various places at the beginning of the year, strawberry farmers suffered heavy losses; however, our farm was completely unaffected. While it was 1°C outside, the temperature inside the net house could maintain at 5°C." In addition to the idea of using filter nets, they also thought of covering the soil with PVC material to prevent nutrient loss. PVC is commonly used in strawberry cultivation, covering the soil to prevent nutrient loss and reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. Fan Jiaqi also applied this technique to the vegetable garden. To make planting even more efficient, she even invented a method for puncturing holes for seedling planting, stating, "You just need to use a T-shaped tool to poke round holes in the soil and toss the seedlings in." Fan Jiaqi joked that this method simplifies the traditional process of making a trench, placing seedlings, and covering the soil. Organic Farming for Strawberries and Vegetables Young farmers Fan Jiaqi and Lin Junwei were once not favored by friends and family. From being doubted to now facing high demand, even on weekends they offer appointments for picking vegetables and harvesting strawberries, showcasing their resilience and presenting a future trend in Taiwan's agriculture that is friendly to the land and provides quality ingredients. Info. Address: No. 80, Lane 286, Huanbei Rd., Zhubei City, Hsinchu County Phone: 0925-070-601 Time: Strawberry picking and vegetable harvesting available by appointment on Saturdays and Sundays; opening hours are primarily announced on Facebook.
