Yunlin Good Products and Shin Hu Farm bring Taiwan’s first aquaponics strawberries to 7-ELEVEN

(中央社訊息服務20260519 11:41:37)The Yunlin County Government continues to promote sustainable and smart circular agriculture, assisting local agriculture in upgrading and transforming, and expanding diversified sales channels. Through the collaboration between Yunlin Good Products, Yunlin County Shin Hu Cooperative Farm, and 7-Eleven, the seasonal limited-edition “Fresh Beauty Strawberry Box” has been launched, marking a significant milestone in bringing fresh fruit into convenience stores.

Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) attended a press conference at the 7-ELEVEN headquarters on Feb. 11 to announce the launch of the "Aquaponics and Strawberry Co-production" product. She stated that the product has received positive feedback from distribution channels, with the first batch of strawberry boxes being supplied to nearly 3,000 stores in northern Taiwan. Starting from Feb. 18, consumers can enjoy safe and high-quality agricultural products from Yunlin at approximately 7,300 7-ELEVEN stores across Taiwan. Strawberry lovers won’t want to miss it.

County Magistrate Chang Li-shan stated that Yunlin's coastal area is rich in resources. By adopting "fishpond-style aquaponics" production methods, a circular system integrating production, ecology, and water resources has been formed. Shin Hu Cooperative Farm pioneered the sustainable "fishpond-style aquaponics" aquaponics model for strawberry cultivation. Combined with Yunlin’s precision irrigation and fertilization techniques, the cultivation process uses no pesticides. All 411 pesticide residue tests were negative, ensuring product safety for consumers. This not only effectively improves the utilization rate of farmland but also showcases the achievements of Yunlin's innovative agriculture. She invited people from all over Taiwan to enjoy Yunlin's safe and delicious strawberries and add a touch of sweetness and happiness to the winter season.

County Magistrate Chang further stated that Yunlin County is a major agricultural county, and its own brand, "Yunlin Good Products," currently has over 13,000 sales outlets across Taiwan. 7-Eleven upholds the spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and supports the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through local sourcing, traceability management, and multi-layered inspections, the company strictly controls food safety from farm to table. In particular, it purchases over NT$1.7 billion worth of agricultural products annually from Yunlin County, including 192 products, 53 of which have annual sales exceeding NT$100 million. In addition to high-quality strawberries, the lettuce produced by the Shin Hu cooperative farm is part of a long-term cooperation project, ensuring a stable supply of 7-ELEVEN salad products.

Legislator Hsu Yu-chen stated that since Magistrate Chang took office, Yunlin County has been committed to transforming itself from a major agricultural county into a leader in smart agricultural technology. Seeing how the Shin Hu Cooperative Farm utilizes a circular economy and smart technology to reuse agricultural waste, producing such high-quality strawberries through aquaponics, and passing over 400 pesticide residue tests, she believes Yunlin's products are truly excellent, and she welcomes everyone to purchase them.

Chen Ching-shan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shin Hu Cooperative Farm, further explained that through the symbiotic cycle of fishponds and crops, approximately 90 tons of waste vegetable leaves can be processed annually, effectively improving the reuse of agricultural waste and stably producing over 3 tons of crops. Two years ago, they first tried strawberry cultivation, and the yield performance was comparable to traditional soil cultivation. In addition, the use of individual potted plants effectively reduced the risk of disease transmission. Combined with water temperature control and plant lighting technology, they successfully extended the harvest period to May.

Agriculture Director Wei Sheng-te (魏勝德) pointed out that farming has become increasingly challenging in recent years due to extreme weather and labor shortages. However, the Shin Hu Cooperative Farm has incorporated smart agriculture and a fully circular economy concept into this aquaponics strawberry project. Xinhu Farm currently produces approximately 1.5 million strawberries per crop cycle, with an annual output of 4.5 million. The quantity and quality are consistent, making it suitable for distribution channels. Through environmentally friendly cultivation and management methods, the strawberries are sweet, visually appealing, and competitive in the market, meeting modern consumers' expectations for healthy and safe food products.