| dc.description.abstract | Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs proposed “One Town One Product”, also known as OTOP, in 1898, aiming at helping counties to create their own local features. Zhuolan township is famous for agricultural products of “Fruits” as the marketing feature. Due to decent environment for agriculture, Zhuolan township features Asian pears, grapes, tangerines, and star fruit. Among these four types of fruits, star fruit is discussed and researched by this essay. Many people have deep memories of delicious taste of Zhuolan star fruit due to its special texture.
The connection between star fruit and Hakka people is not only because of the region where has conditions for it but also because of people who have star fruit playing a role in their culture. Since star fruit is planted in Zhuolan township, a Hakka township, and Hakka population takes up to 89% according to broadly definition; it is also called Hakka distinctive industry. Recently, the percentage of Zhuolan star fruit in marketplace gradually decreases year by year. As a result, the purposes of this research include, first, understanding the history of Zhuolan star fruit industry; second, discovering the technique of planting star fruit, capital source, and source of labor supply; third, discussing the influence of star fruit on local development.
The researcher uses semi-structured interview from in-depth interview, visiting many times to 10 star fruit framers in Zhuolan, and those farmers are still running star fruit business. After collecting, analyzing, and organizing interviewers’ information, the essay mainly discusses the changes of Zhuolan star fruit industry, the knowledge of planting star fruit, capital source, sale channels, and the relation to local development.
Research shows that the star fruit industry in Zhuolan was one the productions from history; knowledge of planting star fruit came from the family heritage or farmers’ social networking; needs of the capital is not a big issue, the market of star fruit is pretty broad; last but not least, star fruit industry boosted local development and brought prosperity in its golden era. Star fruit industry is fading away from the market gradually, but it still remains as one of important factors to local development. Suggesting actions such as cooperation of industry-government-university, cultivation of talents, and cross-industry cooperation can be taken, hoping Zhuolan star fruit industry becoming one of the most influential industries in Zhuolan township and help the local development again. | en_US |