Autumn is the season of shaddock, and the most appropriate timing to harvest shaddock is around Mid Autumn Festival. Pomelo becomes the representation of this holiday. Because of the terrains and climates, flavors from different areas vary slightly. It is said the shaddock here has the smell of honey and its Brix can reach 12 degree. Coming to the production area, tasting the freshly picked shaddock, having a cup of shaddock flavored coffee, adopting a shaddock tree, tourists get to have a sense of the bucolic life in Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area.
Exclusive in Autumn Fruit Picking in Shaddock Orchard
Only a handful of shaddock orchards in Taiwan are willing to open to the public to harvest shaddocks. Some orchards in Xihu, Miaoli, such as Yifang Farm, Duoduolong Organic Farm offer such fun to tourists. It is not just the bigger, the better when it comes to select a shaddock. Here are a few tips, “flat triangle shape, fine oil glands and a heavy weight felt in hand.” When you find the shaddock you favor, support the shaddock with your hand and pick it by turning slightly. The fruit trees in the orchard are dwarfed. Tourists don’t have to climb up to reach for the fruits so it is no sweat at all to pick the shaddocks.
Photo: It is easy to pick the shaddock. This is a perfect activity for families around Moon Festival.
There is a tip when it comes to tasting the shaddock. The freshly picked shaddock is yet the most delicious. Leave it a for a while till the water of the peel dries a bit and the fruit texture turns softer, then the flavor is the best.
Shennong Award Winner, Yi Farm
Owner of Yi Farm, Mr. Yifang PENG was the winner of Shennong (Patron of Agriculture) Award, he has dedicated most of his life in the orchard and has extensive agricultural experiences. This orchard has many old trees. The longan tree is nearly a hundred years old.
Photo: The shaddocks in Yi Farm are from the old vines of more than 30 years.
Shaddock trees prefer places with little rain and more sunshine and Yi Farm has the advantage of long exposure to sun. After years of development, the orchard of a size of 8 hectares grows many produce such as shaddock, pomelo, citrus and longan. Water and soil conservation is well taken care of and the fruit trees were dwarfed so that tourists can easily reach the longan fruits which are usually on tall trees.
According to seasons, Yi Farm is open to visitors to pick different fruits on the farm. For example, longan from August to October, Shaddocks in September and October, pomelo in December, sweet oranges from October to December, mandarins and bergamots in November and December, navel oranges, lady oranges and sanbokans available from November through next February. For those interested, please make a reservation in advance!
Photo: August through October is the season for longan picking.
Organic Food Safety Duoduolong Organic Farm
Duoduolong Organic Farm is at Longdong Village, Xihu Township and practices organic cultivation, and fruit picking is available year round- tankan in January and February, peach in May and June, in pear in July and August, Shaddock in September and October and pomelo in November and December as well as the lemon which is available all year round. For those who love these fruits, welcome to make a reservation and you can also adopt a fruit tree!
Photo: Fruits in Duoduolong Organic Farm are all certified by Chung Hsing University.
Photo: The garden owner, Chirong ZHANG is a farming instructor of the local farmer’s association. He has extensive experiences in organic cultivation.
Yi Farm
Tel: 037-920715
Add: Leigongkan No.9, 11th Neighborhood, Longdong Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County
Website: http://www.yifarm.idv.tw
Fan Page：https://www.facebook.com/西湖鄉義芳農場-1665243297077035/
Duoduolong Organic Farm
Contact: Youqing ZHANG, Zhirong ZHANG
Tel: 037-922689, 0916-727128
Add: No.1-1, 7th Neighborhood, Longdong Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County
Shaddock picking information in other cities and counties
1. Sanfu Leisure Farm in Zhongshan Leisure Agricultural Area, Yilan
◆ Open in September, please visit the website and fan page for more details
◆ Tel: 039-588690
◆ Add: No.82, Ln. 161, Shinliaoer Rd., Zhongshan Village, Dongshan Township, Yilan County
◆ Official Website: http://bit.ly/2YNTbUA
◆Fan page: http://bit.ly/2YOBODd
2. Neishan Leisure Tea Garden in Zhongshan Leisure Agricultural Area, Yilan
◆Open in September
◆Tel: 039-581905, 0910-173056
◆Add: No.23, Ln. 688 Zhongshan Rd., Dongshan Township, Yilan County
◆Official Website:http://bit.ly/2YLQK4Y
3. Jinmingchang Leisure Farm in Malin Leisure Agricultural Area, Keelung
◆Open in September
◆Tel: 02-24563667,0919-322856 Qingbo ZHANG
◆Fan Page:http://bit.ly/2YHgQ97
4. Good Farm Chicken Leisure Farm in Bizaitou Leisure Agricultural Area, Zhanghua
◆ Open in Late October for Pomelo Picking
◆Tel: 0937-593169 Ms. YANG
◆Add: No.36 Ln.451, Sec.5, Zhangnan Rd., Jiushe Village, Fenyuan Township, Zhaghua County
◆Fan Page:http://bit.ly/2YS5LSO
5. Xinrui Farm in Wuhe Leisure Agricultural Area, Hualien
◆ Available in late August
◆Tel: 0921-863379 Mr. YOU
◆Add: No. 268-3, Sec 1, Wenquan Rd., Ruisui Township, Hualien County
◆Fan Page: http://bit.ly/2YJsosK
6 Dongfeng Pomelo in Dongfeng Leisure Agricultural Area, Hualien
◆ Open in late August
◆ Tel: 0972-838351 Ms. Quby PENG
◆ Add: No.11-1, Shigang 1st Neighborhood, Yuli Township, Hualien County
◆Email: qubypon@gmail.com
Fruit Tree Adoption, Be a Stockholder of the Shaddock Trees
Being a holiday farmer by adopting a fruit tree is a short cut to learning to grow agricultural produce. The relationship between people and fruit trees is more than just a trade. When trees are growing, professional farmers are by your side to answer your questions. So you can get a hands on experience and witness the growth of a fruit. This is an advanced and reliable way to have an agritour.
Contacts for a Fruit Tree Adoption
Yi Farm
◆ Cost of adopting an old vine shaddock tree which can reap a harvest of 300-360kg: NT$250,000 The Farm
◆Tel: 0963-289820 Ms.PENG
0937-771026 Ms.PENG
0912-393266 Mr.PENG
037-920715
◆Add: Leigong Kan No. 9, 11th Neighborhood, Longdong Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County
◆Official Website: http://www.yifarm.idv.tw
◆Fan Page:http://bit.ly/2Bi66HR
Xiangye Chuangqi Leisure Farm
◆ Cost of adopting an organic shaddock, with a guaranteed harvest of 150kg: NT$10,000
◆Tel: 0955-418690 Ms. YANG
◆Add: No.17, Puding, 9th Neighhorhood, Hudong Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County
◆Fan Page: http://bit.ly/2YEyKte
Meiman Organic Farm
◆Cost of adopting an organic shaddock: at least NT$7,000
◆Tel: 037-922912, 037-922787, 0921-636838 Zhongzhi ZHANG (please contact at 12:00-14:00, 19:00-22:00 )
◆Add: Zhangwu No.15, 8th Neighborhood, Longdong Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County
Fun Agritour- Hiking in Mt. Youzi
There is a mountain full of shaddock plantation, with an area of 100 some hectares, in Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area; therefore, it is named “Mt. Youzi”, the shaddock blooms in March when there is light fragrance in the air. The snowy floral sea attracts many people. It is an ideal family trip destination- hiking the trails and walking on the flat industrial roads around Moon Festival.
Photo: Coming to Mt. Youzi in September, you will see shaddocks covering the mountain, a fantastic view!
Photo: In August, the trees are laden with shaddocks which are almost ready, indicating another year of harvest!
Fun Agritour, Bucolic Scenery in Hudong
If you want to visit Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area in Xihu, “Corner Cafe” on Datie Street, Hudong Village is the best shortcut because the local who knows the way best is here. Be it a group tour for more than 30 people or an adventure for independent travelers, Ms. Meizheng QIU in the cafe always gives the best advice.
Asides from travel information, remember to have the signature drink, “Shaddock Flavored Coffee” which has 2 layers, with fine coffee on top of the shaddock juice. The fusion flavor is quite a novelty. The combination of strong coffee with the sour and sweet shaddock seems like the new and old elements together in Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area.
Photo: Shaddock juice in the bottom and coffee on top of it.
Ms. Qiu’s recommended route is local residents’ passage, along County Highway 33, with the bucolic scenery unique to Xihu Township and little traffic interference. The ditches for irrigation on both sides of the road are local’s playground. You may even reach the clams at the bottom of the water. All kinds of relics and monuments are on the way so the tourists get to feel the tranquility in a traditional village.
Photo: A traditional barn by the road.
Photo: The ancient building is 200 some years old.
Photo: The path surrounds the town (Huangjin Yi Road)
Photo: The mural on the wall. The bull seems to be looking at you no matter which angel you are in front of it.
Photo: The laundry area still in use.
Corner Cafe
Tel: 037-920833
Add: No. 2-1, 5th Neighborhood, Sanhu Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/cornercafe2016/
About Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area
Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area is in Hudong Village, Xihu Township, Miaoli County. Most of the residents are Hakka and farming is their way of living, with rice and shaddock as their main produce. Transportation is convenient; it takes only 10-minute drive from Provincial Highway 61.
Photo: The gigantic stone sculpture of Matzu, the local religious center, is in the leisure agricultural area.
Photo: The map of Hudong Leisure Agricultural Area (painted by Leisure Industry Development Association of Xihu Township)