Dahu Strawberry Cultural Center Introduction
When thinking of Dahu, the first thing that comes to mind is strawberries. Their vibrant red color and sweet taste bring delightful flavors, filling tasters with a sense of sweet happiness. Strawberries are the main economic crop of Dahu, with peak production occurring from November to April each year. This golden season for strawberries always attracts countless tourists eager to experience the joy of strawberry picking. As a result, Dahu Township has created many strawberry-related products, leading to the establishment of the Strawberry Culture Museum. The first floor of the museum is a showcase area where various strawberry souvenirs and agricultural products are sold. The second and third floors introduce the ecology of strawberries and the history of strawberry development in Dahu, while the fourth floor features a restaurant that incorporates strawberries as ingredients into its dishes, offering unique strawberry cuisine. The fifth floor is an aerial garden with strawberry-shaped pavilions and flower beds, providing a view of the beautiful surroundings. Adjacent to the museum, a leisure winery develops strawberry fruit wine, strawberry ice cream, and strawberry cakes, offering tourists a fresh taste experience that has won over many food enthusiasts. A little story about strawberries: In Taiwan, Dahu is synonymous with strawberries and is well-known as the "Strawberry Town." However, the earliest place where strawberries were cultivated in Taiwan was not Dahu, but Yangmingshan. As early as 1934, the Japanese began experimenting with strawberry cultivation in Yangmingshan, but due to their poor resistance to bacteria, they were not widely planted. In 1957, a resident of Dahu named Lai Yun-tian visited a relative and became interested in this emerging crop. The following year, he and other farmers bought seedlings to cultivate in Dahu, thus beginning the history of strawberry farming in Dahu. The basin terrain and significant temperature differences between day and night in Dahu are particularly suitable for strawberry growth, and with the efforts of local farmers, Dahu gradually gained recognition. In 1979, the "Shunxiang" variety was introduced from Japan, which could be harvested as early as December, had high yields, large fruit size, and excellent quality, making it favored by farmers. The area planted with strawberries increased year by year, and a few years later, the first strawberry-picking tourism farm was established, becoming a celebrated example of the successful integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism.
