Dahu Strawberry Cultural Center Introduction
When it comes to Dahu, the first thing that comes to mind is strawberries. Their vibrant red color and sweet taste bring a delightful flavor that fills tasters with a sweet sense of happiness. Strawberries are the main economic crop of Dahu, with the peak season running from November to April of the following year. This golden period for strawberries attracts countless visitors to experience the joy of strawberry picking. As a result, Dahu Township has developed many strawberry-related products, leading to the establishment of the Strawberry Culture Museum. The first floor of the museum is a sales area that offers various strawberry souvenirs and agricultural products. The second and third floors introduce the ecology of strawberries and the development history of Dahu strawberries. The fourth floor features a restaurant that incorporates strawberries into its dishes, providing unique strawberry recipes. The fifth floor is a sky garden with strawberry-shaped pavilions and flowerbeds, offering visitors a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery nearby. Adjacent to the museum, a leisure winery has developed strawberry fruit wine, strawberry ice cream, and strawberry cakes, providing visitors with a fresh taste experience that has won the hearts of many food lovers. A little story about strawberries: In Taiwan, Dahu is synonymous with strawberries and is widely known as "the hometown of strawberries." However, the first place where strawberries were cultivated in Taiwan was not Dahu, but Yangmingshan. As early as 1934, Japanese people began experimenting with strawberry cultivation in Yangmingshan, but due to their poor resistance to bacteria, large-scale planting did not occur. In 1957, a resident of Dahu named Lai Yun-Tian, while visiting relatives, became interested in this emerging crop. The following year, he, along with other farmers, purchased seedlings and returned to Dahu for cultivation, thus starting the strawberry history of Dahu. The basin topography and significant temperature differences between day and night in Dahu create an ideal environment for strawberry growth. Through the farmers' efforts, the area's reputation gradually grew. In 1979, the "Shunkang" variety was introduced from Japan. Because it could be harvested in December and had high yields, large fruit sizes, and excellent quality, it became popular among farmers. The area cultivated with strawberries expanded year by year, and several years later, the first strawberry picking and fruit tourism farm opened, leading to Dahu's rise to fame as an exemplary model for the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism.
