Interview-Merchants

1. Interview Details：

　a. Street merchant for wild yam and yam biscuits ：

　　 This street merchant for yam biscuits has lived in Sanmin

for her whole life. Her family has been selling wild yam and

yam biscuits for 15 years. Their yam biscuits have great

consistency in textures and are famous for their aromatic

flavors. Adding sugar to yam paste and cornstarch, the batter

mixture is set-aside until customers place orders. Fried yam

batter is saturated with wonderful flavors. While white yam is

《 Street merchant 》

stronger in taste, purple yam has pronounced texture. Though most yams are more refined and grown in Yanmingshan, local merchants are selling coarse white and purple yams grown in Baling.

《 bamboo shoots》

　b. Street merchant for green bamboo shoots ：

　　 The lady sells only her homegrown green bamboo shoots. The harvest

seasons are between April and September. Bamboos shoots are commonly

used in soups and salad. Her husband stated that the best way to attract

business was selling only the top quality bamboo shoots with customer

focused attitudes. In addition, he agreed that color and freshness

determined the qualities of bamboo shoots.

《 merchant for fruits 》

　c. Street merchant for fruits ：

　　It was the harvest season for persimmons when we arrived. Buckets of

golden and juicy persimmons made everyone's mouth watering. The

merchant explained that the harvest season for persimmons was in the fall

while peaches were in season in the summer. The merchant was selling

Lalashan grown fruits to satisfying tourists' taste.

《 Sells the barbecue boss 》

　d. Mountain cuisines and local delicacies ：

　　The restaurant serves a variety of mountain cuisines and local

delicacies. Stone roasted pork was prepared by the chief right next to the

entrance and infused the surroundings with wonderful smells. Try their

best-known stone roasted pork and enjoy a dining experience with

roughness.

　e. Kyak-Pai Farm (Mr. Kang-wei Peng) ：

　　 Mr. Peng has many years of experience in managing

《 Mr. Kang-wei Peng 》

organic vegetable farm. To help us understand organic

vegetables, he agreed to participate in our interview.

　　 Interview overview ： Since the modernization of agricultural

production, administrative agricultural agencies and

professionals has continued to improve qualities of crop

varieties, cultivation techniques, and production material

exploitation.

　　As a result, the area productivity of each crop will continue to increase. However, because chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides have played important roles during the process, the cultivation land and overall ecological environment have been negatively impacted to a large extend. According to major research studies, fertilizer utilizations in Taiwan ranked number five in the world where nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium found in per hectare of cultivation land were five time more than the average amount used in most countries. Unfortunately, our excessive use of fertilizers contributes to lake eutrophication and water pollution. In turn, productivities of cultivation land have been dramatically impacted. Furthermore, the result of long-term chemical use has caused significant ecological impacts because natural enemies were being eliminated and harmful insects and weeds has also developed resistance to chemicals. Therefore, these alarming issues shall be addressed quickly to slow down the growth of negative impacts. Uniformly, experts agreed that organic cultivation was the answer to this frightening problem. As a result, administrative agricultural agencies have been conducting a series of related studies on organic cultivation. For the last 3 years, a trend in organic cultivation has increased rapidly and scattered cultivation has gradually been replaced by organized organic cultivation. In 1998, the overall area of assisted organic cultivation land has increased to 280 hectares nationwide. In particular, organic vegetable fields alone accounted for 96 hectares, a rather satisfying result. However, the keys to successful organic vegetation business will rely on suppliers' commitments and consumers' desires to keep an eye on organic products.

《 store clerk 》

　f. 7-11 convenient store clerk：

　　The clerk indicated that weekend and holiday sales often increase by

many times of weekday sales due to the overwhelming tourist traffic. In

particular, Fuhsing Township has enjoyed a continuing growth in its local

tourism in recent years. While an increasing number of tourists have been

seen in Mt. Chiaoban and Lalashan, only few planned their trips to

Sanmin's attractions. Unfortunately, the majority of tourists passed right through Sanmin before getting to their places of interest. Through collaborations between government agencies and area schools, Sanmin is expected to create a new phenomenon in local tourism industries.

　g. The Greater Sanmin Restaurant ：

《 salesclerk 》

　　Because Sanmin Village used to be known as “Little Beitou”,

restaurant businesses reached an all time high at one point. Nonetheless,

because time and dining habits have changed over time, traditional

restaurants serving full course meals seem to struggle to survive the

competitions. While newer restaurants features great dining atmospheres

and delicate cuisines are drawing increasing number of visitors, competitions has become fierce for traditional restaurant and forced many out of business. Hopefully, under government agencies' directives for tourism, Sanmin Village will soon perk up and repeat the history of “Little Betou”.

　h. HSIEN LEI Restaurant：

　　Boss Li in 26 years old when has opened this dining room, has altogether experienced to at present for 33 years.Boss Li indicated that, Before more than 30 years, three people areas person many take works at farming as lives, but initially produced the crops were an orange, also had some people picks the coal mine, at that time three people areas had 5.6 coal mines factories, but on the street the inhabitant by the food and beverage industry primarily, initially on the street had reaches 18 restaurants, not only the holiday had the tourist to come to dine, the general time also had the association to come to subscribe the table to entertain guests at a banquet, but most received welcome was at that time the reservoir live fish as well as each item of game, but along with time vicissitude, the macroenvironment influence, the people lived the diet custom change, the modern people likes the simple dining, regardingOld style gathers the vegetable to manage the table, thought too excessively is greasy, the component too are many, moreover dines the environment comparison not to be comfortable, therefore business gradually bleak, since 921 big earthquakes, the social economy has been feeble, relative, can expend the human to outside who enjoys to change few, but three people areas food and beverage industry also with feeble, now is not left over 10 dining rooms.
　　 Regarding the future forecast, boss Li indicated that, Because own age has been also big, the new idea absorption too is slow, therefore the hope hits this dining room to give next generation, lets the young people come for this family old dining room to bring the brand-new life.

2. Related picture：


《 Bamboo barrel food 》	《 Snack bar 》


《 Dines tourist 》	《 Flagstone barbecue 》


《 Street merchant for fruits 》	《 We are eating in Sanmin Restaurant 》

3. Consolidated Feedback ：

　　Best known for green bamboo shoots, floral plants, and organic vegetables, Sanmin will be able to drawn a growing interest in its local specialties through restaurants' promotions. Ability to adapt to new trend is also a key to a successful business and ultimate customer satisfactions.
　　 Furthermore, for places of interests like Bat Cave , Old Kyak-Pai Church , and Mt. Chentou Trail, it is highly recommended to encourage merchants and restaurants to focus on souvenirs and cuisines featuring the best of the local characteristics. With this in mind, our local tourism industry will have a better chance to pick up again.

by Hsiao-pei Wu

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