#FastFood #AgriculturalTechnology #TomatoProduction #ZhanxianAgriculturalProductsCompany #Taiwan
Fast food giants like McDonald’s and KFC have embraced a new trend in their burgers – the inclusion of juicy beefsteak tomato slices. These tomatoes, sourced primarily from Zhanxian Agricultural Products Company in Yunlin, Taiwan, have become a staple ingredient in the fast food industry. In order to ensure stable supplies in the face of unpredictable weather conditions, Taiwan has established an entire tomato production ecosystem called Taiwan.Chung Yuisyuan, a fourth-generation trader and owner of the first cold-chain tomato processing plant, stated, “The next step is to create a ‘war room’ for remote monitoring.” With contracted tomato gardens expected to increase from 60 to over 100, the annual production volume is set to reach 15,000 metric tons.
Despite the challenges of imbalanced production and marketing in Taiwan’s agricultural and livestock industries, a new generation of outstanding agricultural enterprises has emerged. According to CTWANT’s research, Zhanxian Agricultural Products Company, a leading supplier of beefsteak tomatoes that caters to five major fast food chains, currently holds a 70% market share in Taiwan. Two years ago, the company implemented an intelligent agricultural management system that integrates field and production management to create automated and comprehensive data. Last year, they introduced Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) technology. It is remarkable that beefsteak tomatoes are supplied to large chain restaurants at stable prices and in significant quantities.
On a weekday afternoon in late March, Chen Yuisyuan, the general manager of Zhanxian, invited a CTWANT reporter to visit their 1,200-hectare tomato field near their headquarters in Siluo, Yunlin County. At 32 years old, Chen possesses a tall stature and dark complexion. He not only eloquently speaks about agriculture but also has expertise in science and technology. The monitoring data on his mobile phone is part of the recently introduced AIoT smart agriculture system. “It’s like atmospheric probing. Hidden in the soil is a humidity sensor. We have installed real-time visualization and environmental monitoring devices in the field, so we can monitor what is happening on-site at any time.” Currently, Zhanxian owns more than 50 leased tomato fields in Yunlin, Chiayi, and Nantou, totaling approximately 60 square meters. About half of the fields are grown in greenhouses, while the other half are cultivated in open fields.
Faced with increasingly severe weather anomalies, unstable production capacities, and labor shortages each year, Chen Yuisyuan utilizes intelligent production and big data management to combat these challenges. The entire planting process is fully recorded and controlled. Any emerging situations can be promptly managed, and through analysis, they can assess harvest time, yield, and determine how much agricultural land should be leased for the next production season.
As Zhanxian Agricultural Products Company continues to optimize its tomato production and supply chain, fast food lovers can look forward to enjoying their favorite burgers with the added freshness and flavor of Zhanxian tomatoes. This successful collaboration between the agricultural and fast food industries showcases the potential of agricultural technology to enhance the dining experience and ensure sustainable food supplies.
