Dahu Strawberry Cultural Center Introduction
When talking about Dahu, the first thing that comes to mind is strawberries. Their bright red color and sweet taste bring about a delightful flavor and a sense of happiness to those who taste them. Strawberries are the main economic crop of Dahu, with their peak season occurring from November to April of the following year. This golden time for strawberries attracts countless visitors who come to experience the joy of strawberry picking. As a result, Dahu has produced many strawberry-related products, leading to the establishment of the Strawberry Cultural Center. The first floor of the center is a display area selling various strawberry souvenirs and agricultural products, while 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, offering specialty strawberry cuisine. The fifth floor is an aerial garden with strawberry-shaped pavilions and flowerbeds where visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery nearby. Adjacent to the center is a leisure winery that develops locally-produced strawberry fruit wine, strawberry ice cream, and strawberry cakes, providing visitors with a fresh taste experience that has captured the hearts of many foodies. A little story about strawberries: In Taiwan, Dahu has become synonymous with strawberries and is widely known as the "Strawberry Town." However, the first area to cultivate strawberries in Taiwan was not Dahu but Yangmingshan, where the Japanese began experimenting with strawberry planting as early as 1934. Due to their poor bacterial resistance, however, they were not widely cultivated. In 1957, a Dahu resident named Lai Yun-tien visited a relative's home and became interested in this emerging crop. The following year, he and other farmers purchased seedlings to plant in Dahu, marking the beginning of Dahu's strawberry history. The basin topography and the significant temperature fluctuation between day and night in Dahu are highly suitable for strawberry growth, and through the efforts of farmers, Dahu gradually gained recognition. In 1979, the "Shung-Hsiang" variety was introduced from Japan, as it could be harvested in December, had a high yield, large fruit size, and excellent quality, making it very popular among farmers. The area planted with strawberries expanded yearly, and a few years later, the first strawberry-picking agritourism farm was opened, gaining fame and becoming the best example of the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism.
