Taipei Mayor's Pineapple Soursop Plan Faces Criticism: Staff Expected to Pay

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an declared his intention to purchase 2,000 boxes of pineapple soursop during his July visit to the 2026 Taitung Expo, aiming to support local farmers. The announcement was made with considerable fanfare, positioning the mayor as a champion of agricultural producers.

However, Democratic Progressive Party councilor Hung Chien-yi has challenged the mayor's initiative, revealing that the 2,000-box quota is not a direct purchase by the city but rather an expectation for city government employees to buy the fruit themselves. Hung sarcastically praised Chiang's move, stating, "Ordering soursop is truly impressive," while highlighting the burden placed on grassroots staff.

This revelation has sparked criticism, with Hung suggesting that the mayor's public support for farmers is being subsidized by municipal employees. The councilor's remarks cast a shadow over the mayor's initiative, raising questions about the transparency and true beneficiaries of the announced procurement.

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Ordering soursop is truly impressive, but the grassroots colleagues have to pay for it themselves.