Young Tourists and Punny Names Drive Caotun Agricultural Products to Sell Out

Caotun Township's Farmers' Association is experiencing a boom in sales of processed agricultural products, driven by young tourists and clever marketing. The association's supermarket has become a destination for visitors seeking unique local items.

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Young tourists are digging for treasure and the effect of homophone puns is causing Caotun's processed agricultural products to sell out.

The "Chestnut Pumpkin Corn烧" (Chestnut Pumpkin Corn Snack), developed using the region's signature chestnut pumpkins, has sold over 10,000 packs in just one month since its launch. This innovative snack combines corn kernels and pumpkin chunks, vacuum-dried for a crispy texture that appeals to younger consumers. Developing the snack presented a challenge, as chestnut pumpkins are notoriously hard, but the association successfully found a way to process them into bite-sized pieces.

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Farmers' association supermarkets have become places for tourists visiting Taiwan and young people to hunt for treasures.

Beyond the pumpkin snack, other processed goods are also flying off the shelves. The "諧音哏" (homophone pun) naming strategy has proven highly effective. For instance, a "freeze-dried drink" made from Caotun's grapes and lemons is playfully named "喝的凍" (He De Dong), a pun on "I'm freezing." Fruit snacks like "翻山越嶺來找你" (Fān Shān Yuè Lǐng Lái Zhǎo Nǐ - Crossing mountains and ridges to find you), "梨不開你" (Lí Bù Kāi Nǐ - Can't leave you, pun on pear), and "莓有你不行" (Méi Yǒu Nǐ Bù Xíng - Can't do without you, pun on strawberry) are also in high demand.

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The 'Chestnut Pumpkin Corn烧', developed using Caotun's chestnut pumpkins, has sold over 10,000 packs in just one month since its launch.

This surge in popularity has dramatically boosted the Farmers' Association's revenue. Previously, annual sales hovered around NT$30-40 million. However, last year, sales exceeded NT$100 million, a significant increase attributed to the success of these processed items and group purchases. The association notes that young people are increasingly drawn to these products, often sharing their "treasure hunting" finds on social media platforms, further fueling demand.

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The association's supermarket, boosted by processed agricultural products and group orders, saw its annual revenue break NT$100 million last year, up from NT$30-40 million previously.