Miaoli County Government Press Release 2019/10/02
Media Affairs Center: 339226
As the refreshing fall season arrives, it's time to taste Chinese mitten crabs again. This year, the Miaoli County Government has assisted 32 crab farmers in cultivating 15 hectares of crab fields. With the unique water quality and climate together with the aquaculture techniques of green ecology and sparse cultivation, the crab quality is well-received by consumers. The county government held a product launch event for the quality Chinese mitten crabs on October 2. Magistrate HSU, YAO-CHANG, led elected government officials and aquaculture industry professionals to endorse the products together to emphasize the professional and rigorous processes involved in the breeding of Chinese mitten crabs. Before being released for sale, the crabs must pass strict testing for 64 drug residues and dioxin content and have certification marks and anti-counterfeit rings attached in order to guarantee food safety. To taste the plump and delicious Chinese mitten crabs, Miaoli is definitely the best choice for consumers.
Recently, mainland China enterprises have sought out Miaoli County crab farmers to discuss collaboration and market the “Miaoli quality Chinese mitten crabs” brand to Singapore, Malaysia, and Macau and even in Taiwan. Magistrate HSU, YAO-CHANG, and the Director of the Agriculture Department, CHEN, JIN-JUN, said the crab farmers in Miaoli County have long insisted on honesty and integrity in managing the aquaculture of Chinese mitten crabs. However, the sales of the Chinese mitten crabs from China were affected because they didn’t pass the dioxin testing. There are also occasionally dishonest businessmen importing Chinese mitten crabs in the name of Miaoli and affecting the goodwill. Basically, the Agriculture Department has refused collaboration with the enterprises from mainland China. Magistrate HSU, YAO-CHANG insists on careful research and consultation into the opinions of crab farmers, ensuring that the priority is given to the goodwill and interests of local crab farmers.
The Agriculture Department said the best season for Chinese mitten crabs is the ninth and tenth months of the lunar calendar each year. As the proverb goes, “round belly button in the ninth month, pointed belly button in the tenth month,” which means that the ninth lunar month is the perfect time to eat female crabs with round belly buttons and the tenth lunar month to eat male crabs with pointed belly buttons. The Chinese mitten crabs in the fall are yellow and plump with sweet and juicy meat, and are supreme delicacies. The three months starting now is the best season to taste crabs.
It is the ninth year that the county government has assisted crab farmers in Chinese mitten crab cultivation. With the excellent and mature techniques of crab farmers as well as the abundant quality water resources and stable climate of the natural environment in Miaoli County, the quality of the Chinese mitten crabs is readily approved by the market and well received by consumers. This year, the focus of the aquaculture techniques is still “green ecology” and “sparse cultivation,” which greatly improves the quality and survival rate of the crabs. The survival rate of the 220,000 Chinese mitten crabs is about 30 percent, so it is expected that the yield of quality Chinese mitten crabs will be 66,000. Before the product launch event, the county government assisted the crab farmers in completing the strict testing for drug residues and dioxin content and issued the anti-counterfeit rings from the place of origin.
On October 2, Magistrate HSU, YAO-CHANG, hosted the quality Chinese mitten crab launch event. Legislator CHEN, CHAO-MING, CEO CHIU, LI-LI, wife of HSU, CHIH-JUNG, WANG, HUI-ZHEN, and ten county councilors including SUN SU-ER and YANG, MING-YE were present to endorse the Chinese mitten crabs of Miaoli with their unique flavor and best quality, as well as affirming the significant role of the brand in the market. The large and healthy Chinese mitten crabs were exhibited at the venue. There were also other delicacies including spicy crabs, crab porridge, and Shaoxing liquor-soaked crabs, which were full of mouthwatering aroma.